Politics Yemen: Conflict in government over Emirates withdrawal
A conflict has broken out within the government in Yemen over further cooperation with the United Arab Emirates in the fight against the Houthi militia.
30.12.2025, 12:46
30.12.2025, 12:47
SDA
The Chairman of the Presidential Council, Rashid al-Alimi, made his decision announced today to exclude the Emirates from the alliance against the Huthi "alone". This was announced by four members of the eight-member Presidential Council. The four members are supported by the Emirates.
No one inside or outside the council has the authority to "unilaterally make sovereign, military or strategic political decisions", the four members said in a statement today. Such decisions would have to be taken with the agreement of the Council or by majority vote. Otherwise, such steps would be legally invalid.
"The United Arab Emirates was - and is - a key partner in countering the Houthi project," it said. The Emirates had made "tremendous sacrifices", including by claiming lives among its own ranks, and had helped to liberate large areas from the Houthi militia.
The government in the civil war country is very weak and is mainly maintained by political pressure and influence from Saudi Arabia. The eight-member Presidential Council, which sits at the head of the internationally recognized government, was established in 2022 with the aim of uniting opponents in the fight against the Huthi in one body. However, the council is plagued by internal differences. The main issue of contention is whether Yemen should remain united or whether it should be divided into two states as it was until 1990.
Hours earlier, Council Chairman al-Alimi had declared the agreement with the Emirates in the fight against the Huthi to be over and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Emirati troops. He also announced a nationwide state of emergency for 90 days. An air, land and sea blockade was imposed on Yemen for 72 hours.
The background to this is a conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, which are actually allies in the fight against the Huthi. However, the two Gulf states are also rivals. They are vying for influence and resources and are pursuing different strategic goals in the country. The separatists supported by the Emirates had taken over large areas in the east, putting their ally in Riyadh under increasing pressure. Saudi Arabia responded today with airstrikes on the port of Mukalla in the south.
