Yemeni Government Asserts Need to Accelerate Reforms to Protect Economy, Currency

Displaced Yemenis stand in line to receive UN humanitarian aid in Hajjah (AFP)
Displaced Yemenis stand in line to receive UN humanitarian aid in Hajjah (AFP)
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Yemeni Government Asserts Need to Accelerate Reforms to Protect Economy, Currency

Displaced Yemenis stand in line to receive UN humanitarian aid in Hajjah (AFP)
Displaced Yemenis stand in line to receive UN humanitarian aid in Hajjah (AFP)

The Yemeni government on Thursday stressed the need to accelerate the adopted reforms to protect the economy and the local currency.

The cabinet asserted its commitment to rationalizing spending and ensuring that the population is not affected by the measures taken to increase revenues.

Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss the necessary measures to face any possible change within the context of confronting the Houthi militia, ending the coup, and restoring legitimacy.

The government approved a 50 percent increase in the US dollar exchange rate used to calculate customs duties on non-essential imported goods to increase resources, which sparked controversy despite a pledge that citizens would not be affected.

Official sources stated that the government evaluated the performance during the past two years, discussed the general political and economic conditions, and the financial and monetary measures it took according to the presidential directives to maintain the national economic stability.

Saba news reported that the government reviewed the arrangements ensuring the measures do not affect the citizens or the available options for revenue development, stressing the need to activate the productive, investment, and revenue sectors.

The Yemeni government affirmed its keenness to ensure control over the measures accompanied by steps aimed at maintaining economic stability and preventing national currency collapse.

It is part of the coordinated efforts with the Presidential Leadership Council to reduce the catastrophic effects of the Houthi terrorist attacks on oil installations and mitigate its repercussions on the humanitarian and economic situation.

The meeting reviewed the policies required to boost the economy, generate, diversify, and expand revenues while ensuring their access to the general government account.

It also called for controlling and rationalizing expenditures, limiting them to necessary spending in a way that leads to achieving financial and monetary stability.

The Yemeni cabinet affirmed it would continue with the measures aimed at reducing expenditures, including revising the lists of scholarships to study abroad and removing those who are not eligible, reducing the numbers of personnel in diplomatic missions and attachés, enhancing transparency, and combating corruption.

Official sources stated that the Yemeni government discussed the directives of the Presidential Leadership Council to provide the necessary facilities for the private sector and protect it as a significant partner in the development and comprehensive economic reform.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of government efforts and organizing priorities in line with urgent needs, aiming to alleviate the suffering of citizens.

Meanwhile, unnamed official sources indicated that the meeting reviewed the report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs on political developments.

The report addressed the ongoing UN and international moves to extend the truce, the Houthis’ continued obstruction of those efforts, and the need for finding a new approach to deal with the Iran-backed militia’s intransigence.



Sudan Lashes Out at Kenya's 'Hostile' Support for Rival Govt

Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Sudan Lashes Out at Kenya's 'Hostile' Support for Rival Govt

Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)

Sudan's army-aligned administration lashed out Monday at what it called Kenya's "irresponsible and hostile" support for efforts by Khartoum's paramilitary rivals to form a parallel government.

Since April 2023, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, once allies, have been locked in a power struggle that has dragged the country into war.

Late Saturday, the RSF and a coalition of political and armed groups signed in Nairobi a charter that would pave the way for a "peace and unity" government in rebel-held areas, with Kenya's foreign minister later saying the proposed administration would restore "democratic governance" in Sudan.

Sudan's foreign ministry condemned the "dangerous precedent" on Monday, saying that "in a grave threat to regional security and peace, the Kenyan leadership has adopted the parallel government that the genocidal militia and its followers intend to declare in some of the remaining pockets under their control".

The government, it added, would take "the necessary steps to respond to this irresponsible and hostile behavior".

Those steps appeared to be taking shape Monday, with foreign ministry undersecretary Hussein Al-Amin Al-Fadil telling a press conference in Port Sudan that "measures against Kenya are escalating, and there are arrangements for economic measures, including a ban on importing Kenyan products".

He also said Sudan was in the process of withdrawing its ambassador from Nairobi and would file a complaint against Kenya through regional and international channels.

Among the signatories of the charter was a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which controls parts of the southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The United Nations warned that the signing of the charter would "increase the fragmentation" of the war-torn country.

But in a post on X on Sunday, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the charter "a peace agreement", describing the proposed administration as a "a unity government" that would restore "peace, stability, and democratic governance in Sudan".

In its statement, Khartoum accused Nairobi of creating a "false facade for the militia to directly obtain weapons", while "relieving regional sponsors of some embarrassment".

The foreign ministry said that this "would expand the scope of war and prolong its duration" and warned of potential damage to bilateral ties with Kenya.

Fadil said Monday that Kenyan President William Ruto "has known personal interests with the militia leader and its sponsors, and is betting on losing cards".

Saturday's signing of the charter comes as the army and its allied factions are making advances against the RSF in the capital Khartoum and in central Sudan.

The war in Sudan, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, erupted after a rift emerged between Burhan and Daglo over the future structure of the government.

The war has triggered the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis.

Both warring sides face accusations of committing grave atrocities against civilians, with their leaders sanctioned by the US.