The General People's Congress party in Sana'a succumbs to Houthi dictates: The full story
In a new development reflecting the depth of the political crisis in Houthi-controlled areas, informed sources revealed that the leadership of the General People's Congress (Sanaa wing) has succumbed to a series of new dictates and decisions imposed by the group. This move comes within the context of the Houthis' ongoing efforts to consolidate their complete control over what remains of state institutions and party structures that were previously partners in power, thus emptying political activity in Sanaa of its true meaning.
The context of hegemony and the dismantling of the sham partnership
This new capitulation cannot be understood in isolation from the historical and political context that emerged after the events of December 2017, which culminated in the assassination of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the party's founder, by his Houthi allies. Since then, the General People's Congress party in Sana'a has been subjected to systematic dismantling, including the confiscation of its headquarters, the freezing of its assets, and the imposition of house arrest on some of its leaders, while others were forced to flee to areas under the control of the internationally recognized government or outside Yemen. The relationship between the two sides has transformed from an "alliance of necessity" to one of complete subservience, with the Houthis using the party as a cover to lend a veneer of legitimacy to their authority.
The nature of the new dictates and their impact
Reports indicate that the new directives include changes to the party's organizational structure and the appointment of loyalists to key positions, as well as the adoption of political and media stances that align completely with the Houthi narrative, even on issues that were previously points of fundamental disagreement. Observers believe these steps aim to eliminate any dissenting or opposing voices within Sana'a and transform the long-established General People's Congress party into a mere decorative facade serving the group's ideological and political agenda.
Repercussions on the Yemeni political scene
This development carries serious implications for the future of the political process in Yemen. Weakening the General People's Congress party in Sana'a and stripping it of its independent decision-making power means eliminating the last remaining channels of communication with moderate political forces within the country. This capitulation also exacerbates the internal divisions within the party, as the loyalties of its members are divided between Sana'a, Riyadh, Cairo, and Abu Dhabi, further complicating efforts to unify the republican front against the Houthi project. Domestically, this event confirms that the Houthis do not believe in genuine political partnership and that their strategy is based on complete domination and the exclusion of others, casting a dark shadow over any international or UN efforts to revive a peace process based on pluralism and national consensus.
