The General People's Congress faction in Sana'a capitulates to the Houthis: Dimensions and implications

In a striking development reflecting the profound political shifts in the Yemeni capital, field and political data indicate that the Sana'a-based wing of the General People's Congress party has completed the process of submitting its political and administrative decision-making to the authority of the Houthi group (Ansar Allah). This transformation did not occur overnight, but rather is the culmination of a long process of pressure and marginalization exerted on the party that was once the sole ruler of the country.

Historical context: From partnership to dependency

To understand the nature of this submission, we must go back a little, specifically to the events of December 2017, which marked a turning point in the history of the party and Yemen in general. After the assassination of former president and party founder Ali Abdullah Saleh, the party underwent a massive dismantling and fragmentation of its organizational structure. The General People's Congress split into several factions: one that aligned itself with the legitimate government, another led by Tariq Saleh on the western coast, and a third that remained in Sana'a under political house arrest.

Since then, the Houthi group has worked strategically to empty the Sana'a wing of its oppositional or independent political content, and to transform it into a political cover that gives their authority a kind of formal legitimacy in front of the internal community, while withdrawing any real powers from its leaders.

Strategy of dominance and unifying the home front

This consolidation of power comes as the Houthis seek to unify the internal front in the areas under their control, eliminating any room for political maneuvering or multiparty pluralism. Many influential figures within the General People's Congress (GPC) have been replaced by individuals loyal to the group, or existing leaders have been forced to fully adopt the group's political and military rhetoric, thus stripping the party of its once-renowned moderate identity.

Political repercussions and the future of peace

This transformation has serious repercussions at both the local and international levels:

• Domestically, this development effectively means the end of political pluralism in northern Yemen, where the political landscape has become monolithic and homogenous. It also weakens the tribal and social ties that the General People's Congress party represented as a broad network of relationships.
• Internationally and regionally, this capitulation complicates the efforts of the United Nations and international envoys to find a comprehensive political solution. The presence of the General People's Congress party as an independent negotiating party was relied upon to create balance in any future political settlement. With the Sana'a faction now absorbed into the Houthi movement, negotiations are confined to only two main poles, which could prolong the conflict and reduce the chances of compromise.

In conclusion, this event marks the end of an important chapter in the history of political parties in Yemen, and confirms that military and security forces have become the sole driving force of the political scene in Sana'a, far removed from traditional party work.