The absence of a Houthi government: A strategy to consolidate power in Yemen
In the complex Yemeni landscape, the Houthi (Ansar Allah) group's (Houthi) failure to form a formal and ostensibly recognized government might appear to be a sign of weakness or an internal crisis. However, a deeper analysis reveals that this situation is not so much a failure as it is a deliberate strategy to consolidate more entrenched and opaque power, beyond any legal or popular accountability. By relying on parallel and informal structures, the group has managed to tighten its grip on the levers of power in the areas it controls.
Historical background: From controlling Sana'a to actual rule
To understand the current situation, one must go back to September 2014, when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sana'a, and state institutions. Initially, they ruled through the "Supreme Revolutionary Committee." In 2016, the "Supreme Political Council" was formed in partnership with the General People's Congress party, led by the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to serve as the supreme executive authority in the areas under their control. Although this partnership later collapsed, the council continued as a facade for managing state affairs, but real power gradually shifted to other, less visible structures.
The mechanism of hidden power: The role of “supervisors” and the parallel state
The Houthis' true power lies in a network of "supervisors" appointed to every ministry, government institution, and local authority. These supervisors, who owe absolute loyalty to the group's leadership, wield powers exceeding those of official ministers and directors. They make strategic decisions, control financial and human resources, and ensure the implementation of the group's ideological and political agenda. This system creates a deep state, or "parallel state," operating behind the facade of official institutions, rendering ministers and officials mere figureheads with no real authority and preventing any attempt at accountability or transparency.
Local and regional impact: A legitimacy vacuum and challenges for the future
Domestically, the absence of a responsible government has led to a catastrophic deterioration in basic services such as electricity, water, and healthcare, in addition to the ongoing crisis of unpaid public sector salaries. Citizens have no official body to hold accountable, as the blame is always placed on “aggression” or the blockade, while state resources are diverted to support the war effort and the group’s activities. Regionally and internationally, this model of governance complicates any peace efforts. The international community finds itself negotiating with a group that controls the state but acts as a revolutionary movement unconstrained by international law or diplomatic norms. The lack of a clear governmental structure makes it difficult to reach lasting and credible agreements and entrenches the de facto division of Yemen, posing grave challenges to the country’s future regarding sovereignty and national unity.
