Alwaght- The first session of the newly-formed Yemen's 'National Salvation' government was convened on in the capital Sanaa to assume responsibilities.
The meeting was convened on Tuesday by Prime Minister Abdulaziz bin Habtour after the new cabinet was sworn in before president of the Supreme Political Council, Saleh al-Sammad. The ministers discussed the priorities of their task and preparation to launch their comprehensive policy to be submitted to the parliament next week. The new Yemeni government is comprised of 35 ministers from the Houthi Ansarullah movement and its allies. The Supreme Political Council is a coalition between the Houthi Ansarullah movement and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s General People’s Congress party.
The leader of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement has said the main objective of the newly-formed National Salvation Government is to manage the country’s domestic affairs and serve the war-torn country in a better way. Speaking on Tuesday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi urged Yemenis to work hard and pave the way for an eventual popular victory. Yemeni political factions have also voiced their complete support for the newly-formed "national salvation government". In a ceremony marking the 49th anniversary of South Yemen's independence from the British colonial rule in the capital, they vowed assist the new leadership.
UN opposes Yemen's Nation Salvation Government
Meanwhile, the United Nations envoy to Yemen has criticized the “national salvation” government claiming it is “a new and unnecessary obstacle” for the talks. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed claimed that the actions recently taken by Ansarullah and the General People's Congress will only complicate the search for a peaceful solution. In response to statements by the UN Envoy, the Supreme Political Council strongly condemned some negative reactions made towards the formation of the National Salvation Government. The council said the formation of the new government came in response to the will of the Yemeni people in the face of the Saudi aggression that targets the Yemeni people, their land and destroys all Yemeni resources. The council expressed extreme surprise at the stances of the Arab League's secretary-general, as well as the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, saying their positions should be neutral and non-aligned to any party. It is now becoming increasingly clear that the UN envoy is serving the interests of Yemeni and he is therefore and impediment to the unity of the country.
Way forward for new Yemeni government
The 'National Salvation' government needs to implement policies that will rise from the nature of the current challenges in military, security, economic, political arenas that the Saudi-led aggression imposed on country since the beginning of their brutal and illegal aggression in March 2015. Over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in this aggression which has also destroyed the capabilities, infrastructure and resources. The formation of this government comes at a crucial time when the foreign aggressors having found themselves in a military quagmire now plan to impose more economic hardships on the already impoverished and besieged county.
Impact on the Saudi aggression
The fact that the new political dispensation in Yemen has succeeded coalescing all groups opposed to the Saudi aggression is a pointer that Yemenis are tired of the war in their country but are still determined to resist foreign invaders and their local lackeys. The new government brings together Yemenis of all political persuasions who see unity as necessary in saving the country from further destruction.
Apparently the only group left out is the Saudi-backed group led by fugitive former president Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. This faction is considered a treacherous political group working with aggressors against the interests of Yemenis.
Yemen's Parliament is expected to approve the country's new cabinet to pave way for speedy implementation of policies that will save the war-torn state from further collapse through unity. By ensuring that it retains the support of most Yemeni factions in confronting the Saudi-led aggression, the National Salvation government will be able to rescue the country from its current predicament.
