Cairo (Europe Brief News) – Yemen’s politically unstable government demonstrated its fragility when Prime Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak resigned on Saturday due to a lack of reform capacity during rising political conflicts.
His resignation creates a major destabilising factor for the Saudi-backed government, which already faces difficulties in governing and fighting against Houthi rebels during the ongoing civil war.
Resignation Driven by Political Deadlock
Prime Minister Abdulaziz Habib Saeed bin Mubarak delivered his resignation to Rashad al-Alimi, who serves as the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, through a written letter in February 2024. In a social media post accompanying the letter, he stated that he could no longer fulfil his duties due to an inability to make “necessary decisions to reform state institutions” or carry out a crucial cabinet reshuffle.
Experts point to prolonged political conflicts concerning presidential governance responsibilities and economic management between Bin Mubarak and the presidential leadership council as the reason behind his departure. Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted that Bin Mubarak had become a “scapegoat” for the government’s failure to address dire economic conditions, including soaring prices and chronic power outages in areas under its control.
A Fractured Anti-Houthi Alliance
Yemen’s civil war continues to divide the internationally recognised government due to the recent resignation in 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of the capital, Sanaa. After Saudi Arabia established a coalition in 2016 to reinstall the government, it became trapped in what had become an expensive and fruitless conflict.
Since its establishment in 2022, the Presidential Leadership Council has transformed into two separate factions that compete against each other.
- Aydarous al-Zubaidi leads both the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) backed by the United Arab Emirates, and his own faction among Presidential Leadership Council members in their quest for an independent South Yemen.
- Al-Alimi, together with Marib province governor Sheikh Sultan al-Aradah, led one block that supports Saudi Arabia, while the other block follows Saudi Arabia’s side.
The country’s political disunity has blocked decision-making power, so the government remains incapable of addressing Yemen’s economic breakdown and showing combined resistance to the Houthis.
Escalating U.S. Strikes Add to Uncertainty
The United States, under President Donald Trump, ordered a more aggressive military strategy against the Houthis, which led Bin Mubarak to resign during this intensified campaign. Military bombardments against the Houthi rebels seek to protect maritime transportation through the Red Sea, yet exacerbate Yemen’s instability since they lack sustainable political solutions to end hostilities.
Deepening Humanitarian Catastrophe
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen ranks as one of the worst worldwide because the ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of over 150,000 people, including civilians and combatants, while 21 million people require assistance. The population in Houthi-controlled areas suffers from unending airstrikes and blockades, while residents of government-held areas, including Aden, experience severe deficits regarding fuel supplies, basic supplies and electricity access.
Mohammed Ali, a teacher in Aden, expressed widespread frustration: “The government can’t even keep the lights on. Changing leaders won’t put food on our tables.”
What Comes Next?
The departure of Bin Mubarak threatens to dissolve the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen. Experts predict the power void will either support STC secessionist efforts or spark violent Saudi-supported factional battles, which will provide the Houthis an opportunity to consolidate their control in northern Yemen.As one Western diplomat lamented: “The government is crumbling from within, and the world is too distracted to intervene.”
