Embassies close, chaos and anarchy spread in Yemen
By Abdul Kuddus 3 hours ago in World .
Sanaa - Deteriorating security and political instability in Yemen is forcing closure of foreign embassies. Saudi Arabia, Germany and Italy withdraw embassy staff from Yemen on Friday. France, Britain, the Netherlands have already closed their embassies.
According to Newsweek, “The United States, Britain and France have rushed to close their embassies over security fears, with U.S. staff destroying top-secret documents and sensitive equipment before pulling out Wednesday. The Netherlands followed suit the next day.”
Shia Houthi militias took control over Yemen two week before, dissolving the government and parliament.
The Houthis owe allegiance to a rebel group, also known as Ansar Allah or the Partisans of God. They adhere to a sect of Shia Islam known as Zaidism.
According to the BBC “The Zaidis ruled North Yemen under a system known as the imamate for almost 1,000 years until 1962.”
“On February 6, the Houthi rebels dissolved the Yemeni parliament and created a presidential council in a “constitutional declaration," Sputnik International reported.
Reportedly the Shiite militias are backed by Iran and Yemen’s former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in 2011 Arab Spring protests.
United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon following his visit to Saudi Arabia said, “Yemen is collapsing before our eyes.” He has appealed for action to stop the Yemen’s slide toward anarchy.
For years Yemen has been embroiled in violent conflict due to power inequity, weak governance, corruption and access to resources. The state is constantly fighting to reinforce its hold over the Houthis and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
For the United States and its oil-rich Arab allies, Yemen’s stability is of strategic importance because of its proximity to the shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden.
The AQAP threatens to attack US interests by attacking oil facilities, foreigners and security forces. It seeks to topple the Saudi monarchy and establish an Islamic caliphate in Yemen.
The United States with assistance from Saudi Arabia have been trying to combat the influence of AQAP in Yemen through the controversial drone strikes and counter-terrorism policies.
Meanwhile reports mention that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is planning a meeting in the Saudi capital of Riyadh to discuss the Yemen crisis.
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