Yemen’s new cabinet tightens noose around Iran

Noura Bendari

Some of the most important terms of the Riyadh Agreement on Yemen were implemented on December 17, after the legitimate Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council reached unanimity on them under sponsorship from Saudi Arabia.

A new government was declared, one that combines technocrats. Led by Maaen Abdel Malek, the new government contains 24 cabinet portfolios. The Southern Transitional Council is also party to the government.

Practical step

The agreement unifies the legitimacy camp in Yemen. As a step, this agreement will give the camp the chance to focus on ending the coup staged by the Iran-backed Houthi militia. It will also give it a chance to focus on the economic and political problems of Yemen, including by rescuing the Yemeni currency which has been losing value against all other foreign currencies in a dramatic manner.

The agreement also deals a painful blow to the regional allies of the Houthis.

Blow to enemies

The agreement between the legitimate government and the Southern Transitional Camp came at a time the allies of the Houthis tried to drive wedges between these two sides, with the end goal of sabotaging the Riyadh Agreement.

The allies of the Houthis also wanted to foil the work of the pro-legitimacy troops in Yemen and keep the Yemen crisis, which has been raging on for six years, boiling.

Houthi claims

The Houthi militia reacted very angrily to the formation of the new government by the legitimate government and the Southern Transitional Council.

Deputy Houthi Foreign Minister Hussein al-Azi said claimed that the Houthis did not have any problems with the new government.

Nevertheless, he lashed out at the new prime minister.