Yemen: Al-Zindani appointed Prime Minister, Bin Brik an advisor to Al-Alimi
The President of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, issued important presidential decrees that stipulated fundamental changes in the hierarchy of the executive authority, including the appointment of Dr. Shaya Al-Zindani as Prime Minister, and the appointment of Major General Ahmed Saeed Bin Brik as an advisor to the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, in a step aimed at injecting new blood into the legitimate government to confront the current challenges.
Context and timing of government changes
These decisions come at a sensitive time for Yemen, as the Presidential Leadership Council, formed in April 2022 to succeed former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, seeks to unify the ranks of the various political and military factions opposed to the Houthi group. These changes are part of the Council's strategy to enhance government performance and improve the level of services provided to citizens in the liberated governorates, particularly given the stalled efforts to extend the UN-brokered truce and the prevailing political stalemate in Yemen.
Economic challenges and urgent issues
The new prime minister faces a number of complex economic challenges, foremost among them the collapse of the national currency (the Yemeni rial) against foreign currencies, resulting in skyrocketing prices for basic commodities and a worsening humanitarian crisis. The new government is expected to focus on economic and financial reforms, controlling public revenues, and attempting to resume oil and gas exports, which were halted by Houthi attacks on oil ports and are the lifeblood of the Yemeni economy.
Diplomatic and political background
Dr. Shaya al-Zindani possesses extensive diplomatic experience, having previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs and as Yemen's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. This experience grants him regional and international acceptance, which could contribute to garnering economic and political support for the new government. Conversely, the appointment of Major General Ahmed Saeed bin Brik as an advisor to al-Alimi reflects the presidential leadership's keenness to integrate influential figures in the south, given his military and political weight, thus strengthening the cohesion of the internal front.
regional and international support
The steps taken by the Presidential Leadership Council enjoy strong support from the Saudi-led coalition supporting the legitimate government, as well as from the international community, represented by the United Nations and its Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg. Observers believe the new government's success hinges on its ability to implement tangible reforms on the ground, overcome internal divisions, and work as a unified team to rescue the collapsing economy and restore state institutions.
