Why Houthis hold the power in Yemen

The impoverished and strife-torn country has a new government in title only, as the Shiite rebels control ministries, finance and transport.

Houthi Shiite rebels patrol the Yemeni capital Sanaa, which they seized control of in September. Hani Mohammed / AP Photo

SANAA // Yemen may claim to have a new government but it is clear who is calling the shots.

The Houthi rebels, who overran Sanaa in September, have taken up key positions in government ministries, installed themselves in the country’s main financial institions and taken control of the most important transport hubs.

The rebels, a group with roots in the Shiite Zaidi sect, had promised to withdraw thousands of fighters from the capital as part of a ceasefire deal signed with the government on September 21.

The Houthis, widely accused of being backed by Iran, demanded a new government that better represented the group and president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi swore in new ministers on November 9. However, there is no sign that the rebels are preparing to relinquish control of government buildings.

“The Houthis did not take control of Sanaa for them to evacuate a month later, they are here to stay and politics in Yemen is entering a phase where the governments is powerless. They are in directly in control of almost everything even airports and border entrances,” said Baleeq Bakigh Al Mikhlafi, a senior politician in Yemen.

“Security forces are currently handicapped after the defeat at the hands of the Houthis and their control within government institutions is a given.”

After signing the deal the Houthi militants formed “resistance committees” and stationed themselves in ministries, government institutions and the central bank, cementing their hold on power in the capital.

The majority of security checkpoints throughout Sanaa and surrounding areas are controlled by Houthi militants.

As the negotiations continued, the majority of the militants were officially added to the government payroll and officially distributed within the security forces and police departments. At least 2,000 Houthis have been added to the government payroll, according to the rebel group.

Last month, Houthi militants raided the human-rights ministry, kicked out its minister, and assigned an official to run the ministry until the new government was formed. The government did not react.

“The incident of the human-rights ministry will continue for those ministers Houthis oppose,” said a top official at the ministry. “They appoint and they dismiss and the government turns a blind eye.”

The Houthis also sought control of the capital’s key financial institutions. The governor of the Central Bank of Yemen has been ordered to provide the Houthis with details of every six-digit transaction, said a senior bank official

“Dozens of transactions were stopped by the Houthis,” the official said. “All accounts belonging to companies or senior Yemeni officials are on the Houthi watch list.”

At the finance ministry, the Houthi political council placed a number of their representatives who are already connected to the government within the ministry’s main departments. Across Sanaa, armed Houthis are clearly in control and are present at all ministries in Sanaa.

Houthi checkpoints are known by the sign they have hung beside them such as: “Death to America, Death to Israel”.Houthis forces have also jailed hundreds of people in Sanaa this month in secret prisons for interrogation, with the government making no effort to stop them, according to a senior Houthi leader and member of the Houthi political council. Those detained are suspected of supporting attacks against Houthis by Sunni tribesmen in the provices. “We are against the Houthi militants activities, but their presence has kept Sanaa safer,” said Saleh Al Sharabi, a full-time accountant in Sanaa whose residence is just across the street from a Houthi gathering point. “I am just worried that one day I am targeted by the Houthis.”

The group has also set up at least 12 private courts in Sanaa. “People resort to us to solve their problems in the absence of the government doing its duties,” said AbdulQader Al Shami, a pro-Houthi lawyer and activist in Sanaa. “People are seeking justice and we help when government institutions are not able to quickly solve the problems.”

The new-found power of the Houthis came after more than a decade of conflict with the central government. The Yemeni army has fought six wars against the Houthis since 2004.

After a popular uprising in 2012 removed president Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, Houthi supreme leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi used the chaos to increase his power base in the mountainous north of the country. He was also able to set up a political wing, Ansarullah.

The group took control of Sanaa after weeks of fighting killed more than 500 people.

The militants then pushed across northern Yemen, winning battles against Sunni tribesmen and Al Qaeda militants. The government has repeatedly failed to dislodge Al Qaeda from strongholds in the country despite support from US drone strikes.

With these victories, it seems unlikely the group is likely to give up the influence it now holds in the capital.

“Houthis need to put their weapons aside and form a political party in order to have influence within Yemeni politics,” said Mohammed Abulahoum, president of the Justice and Building party. “Yemen has no chance to reach safe shores if all sides resort to militancy and arms.”