Spot Report: Amidst Houthis Tensions, Yemeni Government Appoints New Prime Minister by Navanti News
Yemen’s Presidential leadership Council has announced the appointment of Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak as the new Prime Minister of Yemen. Bin Mubarak, the current Foreign Minister of the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) and former Ambassador to the United States and the UN, takes on this crucial role at a challenging time n Yemen’s political landscape.
However, the appointment is not without its complexities. The Houthi faction is expected to interpret Bin Mubarak’s elevation as an escalation, viewing him as a longstanding adversary and one of the key architects behind the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Tensions between the Houthis and Bin Mubarak can be traced back to 2014 when, on October 8, he resigned from the position of Prime Minister amid mass protests orchestrated by the Houthis and allies, who claimed “foreign interference” in his appointment.
The relationship further soured on January 18, 2015, when the Houthis forcibly abducted Bin Mubarak at gunpoint. The abduction was rooted in a disagreement over proposed changes in a new constitution, including matters related to federal regions, presidential term limits, and restrictions on political parties based on religious or ethnic affiliations. These proposals were vehemently rejected by the Houthis and their allies, leading to Bin Mubarak’s nine-night captivity.
In recent press remarks, Bin Mubarak has taken a proactive stance on regional and international relations. He has called on the European Union to designate the Houthis as a terrorist group, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Additionally, he has strongly advocated for increased military support to government forces, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive shift in EU-Yemen relations. During a visit to Brussels, Bin Mubarak actively lobbied for direct support to Yemeni forces, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the coastguard, as reported by Reuters.
Bin Mubarak holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Baghdad, he has served as an Assistant Professor in various Yemeni universities. He headed the Business Administration Centre for Graduate Studies at Sana’a University and supervised numerous theses and dissertations.Bin Mubarak’s involvement in the Yemeni transitional process began in 2012 when he played a pivotal role as a member of the Preparatory Committee. In 2013, former President Hadi appointed him Secretary General of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference. Despite facing challenges, Bin Mubarak facilitated mediation efforts and provided technical support, contributing significantly to the conference’s positive outcomes.
He served as Director of the Presidential Office (Chief of Staff) in 2014, and actively participated in UN peace talks and served as Yemen’s Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the UN. On December 18, 2020, he assumed the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.