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Supreme Political Council

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The Supreme Political Council (SPC; Arabic: المجلس السياسي الأعلى al-Majlis as-Siyāsiyy al-ʾAʿlā) is an executive body formed by the Houthi movement and the pro-Houthi faction of the General People's Congress (GPC) to rule Yemen. Formed on 28 July 2016, the presidential council consists of thirteen members and was headed by Saleh Ali al-Sammad as president until he was killed by a drone strike on 19 April 2018, with Qassem Labozah as vice-president. Presently the council is headed by Mahdi al-Mashat as Chairman. [1]

Supreme Political Council
المجلس السياسي الأعلى
Overview
Established28 July 2016 (2016-07-28)
PolityHouthi-controlled territories of Yemen
LeaderChairman (Mahdi al-Mashat)
HeadquartersSanaa
Websiteyemen.gov.ye (dead)
(27 April 2021 archive)

The SPC carries out the functions of head of state in Yemen and is to manage Yemen's state affairs in a bid to fill in political vacuum during the Yemeni Civil War in 2015.[2] The Council aims to outline a basis for running the country and managing state affairs on the basis of the existing constitution.[3][1] Later, the SPC was also responsible for forming a new government led by Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour, known as the National Salvation Government.[4]

The members were sworn in on 14 August 2016.[5] On 15 August, the Supreme Revolutionary Committee (SRC) handed power to the Supreme Political Council.[6] The SPC remains internationally unrecognized and is acknowledged only by Iran, with the Houthis placing an ambassador to Iran in August 2019.[3][7][8] The formation of the SPC has been condemned by the international community, with United Nations officially describing the act as "a clear violation of the Yemeni constitution" and denouncing the council for sabotaging the Yemeni peace process.[3][9][10]

Background

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Territory controlled by the Houthi movement shown in dark green

In the wake of president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and prime minister Khaled Bahah resignations over Houthi rebels takeover of presidential palace in January 2015, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi reportedly proposed a six-member "transitional presidential council" which would have equal representation from north and south, although this proposal was rejected by the Southern Movement.[11] Nevertheless, on 1 February, the Houthis gave an ultimatum to Yemen's political factions warning that if they did not reach a solution to the current political crisis, then the Houthi "revolutionary leadership" would assume formal authority over the state.[12] According to Reuters, political factions have agreed to form an interim presidential council to manage the country for up to one year. Former South Yemen president Ali Nasser Mohammed was originally being considered as a prospective interim leader, but Mohammed later declined the post.[13]

On 6 February 2015, the Houthis formally assumed over authority in Sanaa, declaring the dissolution of House of Representatives and announced that a "presidential council" would be formed to lead Yemen for two years, while a "revolutionary committee" would be put in charge of forming a new, 551-member national council.[14] This governance plan was later affirmed by Houthi Ansarullah politburo leader Saleh Ali al-Sammad as he said that national council would choose a five-member presidential council to govern the country.[15]

Current members

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the following members of the SPC:[16]

Role Name
Chairman Mahdi al-Mashat
Vice Chairman Sadeq Amin Abu Rass
Prime Minister Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour
Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf
Defence Minister Mohamed al-Atifi
Interior Minister Muhammad Ali al-Houthi
Member Salih Mabkhout al-Nuaimi
Member Jaber Abdullah Ghaleb Al-Wahbani
Member Mubarak Saleh Al-Mishn al-Zaidi
Member Sultan Ahmed Abed Rabbo al-Samei
Member Khaled Mohammed Saeed al-Dini
Member Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahwi

National Salvation Government

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On 2 October 2016, Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour was appointed as prime minister by the Houthis.[4] On 4 October, he formed his cabinet.[17] The cabinet is composed of members of the Southern Movement.[18] However, the cabinet is not internationally recognized.[19]

On 28 November 2016, a new cabinet was formed.[20] It is only composed by members of pro-Saleh GPC and the Ansarullah Movement.

However, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said the move was "a new and unnecessary obstacle. Yemen is at a critical juncture. The actions recently taken by Ansarullah and the General People's Congress will only complicate the search for a peaceful solution. The parties must hold Yemen’s national interests above narrow partisan ambitions and take immediate steps to end political divisions and address the country’s security, humanitarian and economic challenges." He further claimed that such an action could harm peace talks.[21]

On 27 October 2020, the Minister of Youth and Sport Hassan Mohammed Zaid was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the capital Sanaa.[22]

Office Incumbent Start End
Prime Minister Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour 4 October 2016 Incumbent
Deputy Prime Minister for the Affairs of the Security Jalal al-Rowaishan 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Deputy Prime Minister for the Affairs of the Service Mahmoud Abdel Kader al-Jounaïd 1 January 2018 Incumbent
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Abdullah Mkabuli 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Interior Abdulhakim Ahmed al-Mawri 13 December 2017 Incumbent
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdulaziz Al-Kumaim July 2017 Incumbent
Minister of Information Dhaifallah Qasim Saleh al-Shami[23] 10 November 2018 Incumbent
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hisham Sharaf Abdullah 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of State for National Dialogue Outcomes' Affairs and National Reconciliation Ahmed Saleh al-Ganie 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Youth and Sport Hassan Mohammed Zaid 28 November 2016 27 October 2020[22]
Minister of Legal Affairs Abdulrahman Ahmed al-Mukhtar 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Education Yahia Badreddin al-Houthi 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Civil Service and Insurance Talal Aklan 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and the Shura Council Ali Abdullah Abu Hulaykah 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Defense Mohamed al-Atifi 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Industry and Trade Abdu Mohammed Bishr 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister for Fisheries Mohammad Mohammad al-Zubayri 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Justice Ahmed Abdullah Akabat 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Hussein Ali Hazeb 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Faiqah al-Sayed Ba'alawy 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Tourism Nasser Mahfouz Bagazkoz 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Public Works and Highways Ghalib Abdullah Mutlaq 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Water and Environment Nabil Abdullah al-Wazair 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Petroleum and Minerals Ahmed Abdullah Naji Dars 1 January 2018 Incumbent
Minister of Electricity and Energy Lutf Ali al-Jermouzi 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Local Administration Ali Bin Ali Al-Kays 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Religious Endowments and Guidance Sharaf Ali al-Kulaisi 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Expatriate Affairs Mohammed Saeed al-Mashjari 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Finance Saleh Ahmed Shaaban 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Musfer Abdullah Saleh Al-Numeir 16 December 2017 Incumbent
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Ghazi Ahmed Mohsen 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Mohsen Ali al-Nakib 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Culture Abdullah Ahmad al-Kibsy 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Transport Zakaria Yahya al-Shami 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of Human Rights Alia Faisal Abdullatif al-Shaba 28 November 2016 Incumbent
Minister of State Fares Mana'a
Nabih Mohsen Abu Nashtan
Radhiyah Mohammad Abdullah
Aubayd Salem bin Dhabia
Hamid Awadh al-Mizjaji
Abdulaziz Ahmed al-Bakir 		28 November 2016 Incumbent

Diplomatic relations with other states

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The National Salvation government has currently only diplomatic relations with Iran. Relations with Syria existed between 2015 and 2023. Additionally, the government has diplomatic contacts with Abkhazia, North Korea and Russia. In 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that the government would seek contacts with China, Iran and Russia.[24] In 2016, a National Salvation government official had invited several North Korean diplomats to Damascus.[25] The same year, a delegation of the National Salvation government visited Russia and met the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.[26] In 2017, foreign minister Hisham Sharaf Abdullah met with the chargés d’affaires of the Russian and the Syrian Embassy in Sanaa.[27][28] In August 2019, the National Salvation government appointed an Ambassador to Tehran.[29][30] In early 2020, the Saba News Agency reported that Hisham Sharaf Abdullah called China a "friendly government".[31] In October 2020, Iran appointed an Ambassador to Sanaa.[32][33][34] Two months later, the United States sanctioned the Iranian Ambassador to Sanaa.[35] In August 2020, the National Salvation government appointed an Ambassador to Damascus.[36] In March 2021, the National Salvation government appointed Ambassador in Damascus met with the Abkhaz Ambassador to Syria.[37] In October 2023, Syria expelled representatives of the National Salvation government from the Yemeni embassy in Damascus.[38]

The President, the Parliament Speaker and the Foreign Minister of the National Salvation government have sent numerous diplomatic notes to a wide range of countries such as Algeria,[39] Bahamas,[40] Comoros,[41] Kiribati,[42] Malawi,[43] Malta,[44] Mongolia,[45] Montenegro,[46] Slovenia,[47] South Sudan,[48] Venezuela[49] and Uzbekistan[50]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Saba Net – Yemen news agency". 6 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Yemen: Ansar Allah signs agreement with Saleh's party creating supreme political council – Middle East Confidential". 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Yemen: Houthi, Saleh council formation criticised by UN". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Yemen's Houthis ask former Aden governor to form government". Reuters. 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Saba Net – Yemen news agency". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Saba Net – Yemen news agency". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Yemen Shiite Rebels Appoint an Ambassador to Iran for First Time". Bloomberg. 18 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2019 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  8. ^ "North Korea's Balancing Act in the Persian Gulf". HuffPost. 17 August 2015. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Yemen: Houthi, Saleh council formation criticised by UN". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  10. ^ "UN criticizes Houthi, Saleh council formation". Yemeni Media Center. 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Yemen's Houthis hold boycotted talks with single party". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Houthis set deadline to resolve Yemen crisis". Al Jazeera. 1 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Yemeni Parties Agree To Form Presidential Council Despite Missing Deadline: Report". International Business Times. 5 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  14. ^ "HuffPost – Breaking News, U.S. And World News". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  15. ^ Nordland, Rod; Almosawa, Shuaib (10 February 2015). "U.S. Embassy Shuts in Yemen, Even as Militant Leader Reaches Out". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Supreme Political Council". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Yemen rebels form rival government". Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
  18. ^ "Yemen rebels form rival government". 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  19. ^ "UN rejects Yemen rebels' bid to form government". Gulf News. 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Saba Net – Yemen news agency". Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  21. ^ "Note to Correspondents – Statement attributable to the Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed". Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  22. ^ a b Staff (27 October 2020). "Houthi official gunned down in Yemeni capital". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  23. ^ "رئيس المجلس السياسي الأعلى يصدر قراراً بتعيين ضيف الله الشامي وزيراً للإعلام". وكالة سبأ (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Yemen's Houthis Seek Iran, Russia and China Ties". Wall Street Journal. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  25. ^ "North Korea trying to sell weapons to Houthis, secret UN report reveals". Arab News. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Russia receives Yemen Houthi delegation". Middle East Monitor. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Russia envoy meets with top Houthi diplomat in Yemen". Middle East Monitor. 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Yemeni Foreign Minister, charge d'affaires of Syrian Embassy in Sanaa discuss developments in two countries". SANA. 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Yemen Shiite Rebels Appoint an Ambassador to Iran for First Time". Bloomberg. 18 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Yemen Huthi rebels appoint 'ambassador' in Tehran". Zaman Alwsl. 18 August 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  31. ^ "FM announces Yemen's solidarity with China". SABA. 3 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  32. ^ "New 'ambassador' in Sana'a signals Iran's ambitions in Yemen". The Arab Weekly. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Iran's New Ambassador to Sanaa Signals Prolonged War in Yemen". Inside Arabia. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Iran posts ambassador in Houthi-held Yemeni capital". Al Arabiya. 17 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Fresh U.S. Sanctions Target Iranian Envoy To Yemen's Huthi Rebels". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  36. ^ "New ambassador to Syria sworn in before President". SABA. 15 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Bagrat Khutaba met with the Ambassador of Yemen to Syria". Abkhaz Foreign Ministry. 15 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Syria expels Houthi 'diplomatic mission' in Damascus". Arab News. 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Parliament speaker congratulates Algerian counterpart". SABA. 11 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  40. ^ "FM congratulates counterpart in Bahamas on National Day". SABA. 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  41. ^ "President Al-Mashat congratulates Comoros' President on National Day". SABA. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  42. ^ "FM congratulates counterparts in Kiribati, Sao Tome". SABA. 11 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  43. ^ "Foreign Minister congratulates Comorian, Malawian counterparts". SABA. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Foreign Minister congratulates counterparts in Malta, Armenia, Belize on National Days". SABA. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  45. ^ "FM congratulates Mongolian counterpart". SABA. 10 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  46. ^ "FM congratulates counterpart in Republic of Montenegro on National Day". SABA. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  47. ^ "FM congratulates counterparts in Mozambique, Slovenia". SABA. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  48. ^ "FM congratulates counterpart in South Sudan on National Day". SABA. 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  49. ^ "FM congratulates counterparts in Cape Verde, Bolivarian Venezuela". SABA. 4 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  50. ^ حلبوب, مراد (31 August 2024). "الرئيس المشاط يهنئ رئيس أوزبكستان بذكرى عيد الاستقلال". سبتمبر نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 September 2024.
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