Latest news with #AhmedAwadbinMubarak
Yemen Online
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
Even amid the Gaza war, Yemen peace talks can be revived if the world were to seize the moment
Before the Hamas militant group attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, negotiations to end Yemen's long-standing civil war were more productive than they had been for years. At the very least, there was a horizon for starting a political process. The Houthi rebel group, which took the capital Sanaa in 2014, continued to hold large swathes of the country even after a seven-year campaign by the internationally recognised government and its regional allies to dislodge them. The government, based in the port city of Aden, was the weaker party, but still standing. But the prolonged stalemate was finally growing tiresome enough that both parties were rumoured to be close to a 'roadmap' to making their ceasefire permanent and ending the war. The Hamas attack, despite taking place more than 2,000km from Yemeni soil, along with Israel's brutal and ongoing war of revenge in Gaza, changed all of that. The Houthis have dropped peace talks and instead taken to firing at commercial ships in the Red Sea, ostensibly in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Punitive air strikes on Yemeni cities by Israel, the US and UK have dealt much damage but failed to cripple the Houthis. What hasn't killed them may even have made them stronger. Emboldened by their perception of invincibility, the Houthis continue to rule with extremism and repression. In the absence of any momentum towards a resolution, the government in Aden risks becoming inert, increasingly paralysed by internal disagreements. Its Presidential Leadership Council – an executive committee comprised of often-competing factions – has been unable to tackle an economic crisis in government-held areas. In May, the prime minister, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, resigned after complaining of being blocked by the PLC from carrying out his official duties. Hoping to signal that it takes economic issues seriously, the Council chose the Minister of Finance to replace him. But in the absence of deeper constitutional reform that prevents obstacles of the sort faced by Mr bin Mubarak, it is unlikely to make a difference. This state of affairs has not merely put the prospect of a Yemeni peace on ice but degraded it. The international community has seemingly become indifferent to that reality. Western powers, in particular, have come to treat Houthi actions as a mere extension of the Gaza conflict, behaving as though the Houthi threat will diminish in the event of a deal between Israel and Hamas. In the absence of any momentum towards a resolution, the government in Aden risks becoming inert, increasingly paralysed by internal disagreements. Its Presidential Leadership Council – an executive committee comprised of often-competing factions – has been unable to tackle an economic crisis in government-held areas. In May, the prime minister, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, resigned after complaining of being blocked by the PLC from carrying out his official duties. Hoping to signal that it takes economic issues seriously, the Council chose the Minister of Finance to replace him. But in the absence of deeper constitutional reform that prevents obstacles of the sort faced by Mr bin Mubarak, it is unlikely to make a difference. This state of affairs has not merely put the prospect of a Yemeni peace on ice but degraded it. The international community has seemingly become indifferent to that reality. Western powers, in particular, have come to treat Houthi actions as a mere extension of the Gaza conflict, behaving as though the Houthi threat will diminish in the event of a deal between Israel and Hamas. This approach is both short-sighted and wrong. There is a chance to revive Yemen's peace talks, as the UN's special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, reminded everyone during a visit to the country this month. The level of fighting within the country has subsided, Mr Grundberg noted, and the calm provides space for confidence-building measures between the two sides, if others can prod them along. It helps that the Houthis' main backer, Iran, appears to be growing weary of regional conflict, even if the rebels themselves are not. Tehran's security apparatus was badly wounded in its recent war with Israel and has seen its influence both in Syria and Lebanon much diminished. That offers some leverage with which to remind the Houthis that they are not, in fact, invincible, but rather deeply dependent on a network of alliances that is much weaker than it was when they took power. 'The opportunity for peace still exists,' Mr Grundberg told reporters in Aden, 'but it requires courage, compromise and a genuine commitment to the Yemeni people's future.' This may feel like a lot to ask for in a region trying to quell several outbursts of conflict at once, but it is the very least that millions of Yemenis deserve.
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Yemeni PM resigns
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognised government, said in a statement on Saturday he had resigned after facing "lots of difficulties" including being unable to reshuffle the government. His exit follows conflict with Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's presidential council, over his powers after the latter refused Mubarak's request to dismiss 12 of the government's ministers, six government sources told Reuters. They said Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik was set to be appointed the new prime minister. Mubarak was appointed premier in February 2024 after serving as foreign minister. He came to prominence in 2015 when he was kidnapped by Iran-aligned Houthi militia while serving as Yemen's presidential chief of staff during the Houthis' conflict with then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Mubarak's resignation, which he announced in a statement, came with the US intensifying airstrikes to take out Houthi military assets and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Yemen PM Ahmed bin Mubarak steps down amid political deadlock
Listen to article Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognised government, said in a statement on Saturday he had resigned after facing 'lots of difficulties' including being unable to reshuffle the government. His exit follows conflict with Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's presidential council, over his powers after the latter refused Mubarak's request to dismiss 12 of the government's ministers, six government sources told Reuters. They said Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik was set to be appointed the new prime minister. Mubarak was appointed premier in February 2024 after serving as foreign minister. He came to prominence in 2015 when he was kidnapped by Houthi militia while serving as Yemen's presidential chief of staff during the Houthis' conflict with then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Mubarak's resignation, which he announced in a statement, came with the US intensifying airstrikes to take out Houthi military assets and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The deadly strikes on the group since March have been the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Yemen has been embroiled in civil war for over a decade. The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014 and ousted the recognised government, forcing it to relocate to the southern port of Aden. The Houthis now hold most of the country including its main population centres in the north and west.
Business Recorder
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PM of Yemen's internationally recognised government resigns
ADEN: Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognised government, said in a statement on Saturday he had resigned after facing 'lots of difficulties' including being unable to reshuffle the government. His exit follows conflict with Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's presidential council, over his powers after the latter refused Mubarak's request to dismiss 12 of the government's ministers, six government sources told Reuters. They said Finance Minister Salem Saleh Bin Braik was set to be appointed the new prime minister. Mubarak was appointed premier in February 2024 after serving as foreign minister. He came to prominence in 2015 when he was kidnapped by Houthi militia while serving as Yemen's presidential chief of staff during the Houthis' conflict with then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. US says kills 'key' Houthi leaders in Yemen strikes Mubarak's resignation, which he announced in a statement, came with the U.S. intensifying airstrikes to take out Houthi military assets and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The deadly strikes on the group since March have been the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Yemen has been embroiled in civil war for over a decade. The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014 and ousted the recognised government, forcing it to relocate to the southern port of Aden. The Houthis now hold most of the country including its main population centres in the north and west.
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemen PM Says He Is Resigning over Political Differences
The prime minister of Yemen's legitimate government said Saturday he was resigning and cited political struggles. Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak announced the decision in a post on social media, attaching a resignation letter directed to Rashad al-Alimi, head of the ruling Presidential Leadership Council. The government is based in the southern city of Aden. Bin Mubarak, named prime minister in February 2024, said he was resigning because he was unable to take 'necessary decisions to reform the state institution, and execute the necessary Cabinet reshuffle.' There was no immediate comment from the PLC. Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since 2014, when Iranian-backed Houthi militias seized the capital of Sanaa in a coup, forcing the legitimate government into exile. The seven-member PLC was appointed in 2022. Bin Mubarak's resignation came as the United States has increased its attacks on the Houthis in Yemen. The US military has launched nearly daily strikes in Houthi-held areas since March 15, when President Donald Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign against the militants. The war has devastated Yemen and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. More than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed.
