The Muslim Brotherhood disclaims responsibility for the deterioration of the situation in Taiz and blames the legitimate government… What’s the story?

28th February 2025

2 minutes read

The Muslim Brotherhood disclaims responsibility for the deterioration of the situation in Taiz and blames the legitimate government… What’s the story?

After the province, considered one of their political and security strongholds, became a hub of popular protests against deteriorating living conditions, declining services, rising prices, and weak and irregular salaries for public employees, the Yemeni branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, represented by the Al-Islah party, rushed to deny any responsibility for the worsening situation in Taiz, a province in southwestern Yemen.

According to the London-based newspaper Al-Arab, the party blamed the Yemeni legitimate government’s political leadership for the deteriorating conditions in Taiz. In a statement, it called for urgent measures to improve the situation and warned of the consequences if the crisis continues.

Observers of Yemeni affairs, as cited by Al-Arab, argue that while Taiz, one of the most populous provinces in the country, is affected by the general security, economic, and financial crises plaguing Yemen, this does not absolve Al-Islah of its responsibility for the province’s current state. The party has played a major role in managing Taiz’s affairs over the past years, significantly contributing to the mismanagement and squandering of its resources. It has also fueled internal conflicts, leading to instability that negatively impacted local institutions and slowed down an economy that was once vibrant and active.

Critics of the party argue that its attempt to evade responsibility for the situation in one of its main strongholds contradicts its previous criticisms of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which has often accused the legitimate Yemeni government of being responsible for the deteriorating conditions in Aden and other southern areas.

Circles close to Al-Islah have frequently criticized the STC for opposing the performance of the internationally recognized Yemeni government in southern regions, accusing it of trying to simultaneously participate in power while acting as an opposition force.

In its statement published on Wednesday by its Taiz branch, Al-Islah called on the Presidential Leadership Council and the government to take urgent measures to improve the economic situation and halt the collapse of the local currency.

The party also emphasized the need to find practical solutions to the livelihood crisis affecting citizens, warning of its negative repercussions on social stability and public security. In its statement, released ahead of the month of Ramadan, it declared: “Taiz has been standing firm for a decade against the Houthi militia, making great sacrifices for dignity and the homeland.”

Al-Islah, which holds a strong presence within the legitimate Yemeni government and exerts de facto control over the province of Marib, east of the capital Sanaa, as well as a significant security influence in Taiz, has used the severe financial and social crisis and the near-collapse of public services, especially in Aden, as a propaganda tool against the Southern Transitional Council, leveraging the powerful media networks affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.