A Last Card against Isolation: The Houthis Resort to the “Sanaa Conference”

19th December 2024

3 minutes read

A Last Card against Isolation: The Houthis Resort to the "Sanaa Conference"

Seven years after the elimination of its leader and the execution or abduction of its cadres, the Houthis have returned with a new plan to absorb what remains of the General People’s Congress Party – Sanaa wing.

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Since assassinating its leader, the late president Ali Abdullah Saleh, in December 2017, and seizing his assets, executing, or abducting its cadres, the Houthi militia has continued its schemes against the General People’s Congress Party. Recently, they have sought to lure remaining leaders into their fold to prolong their coup.

Sensing their imminent demise amid the collapse of their Iranian allies in the region, the Houthis adopted a “scorched-earth” policy. They extended seemingly enticing offers to the Congress Party, aiming to exploit it as a shield to prevent their internal collapse.

Cover and Bargaining

High-level political sources in Sanaa said that the Houthi leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, instructed several of his officials to reach out to Congress Party leaders in Sanaa and present a package of incentives as a lifeline to the militia amid its growing international isolation.

The sources revealed that “the Houthis‘ offer to Congress leaders includes five key incentives, such as the release of detainees affiliated with the Congress Party from the militia’s secret prisons,” as part of a strategy to use these detainees as bargaining chips.

The second point entails reinstating army officers loyal to the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh to positions in security and frontlines.

The Houthi proposal also requested Congress Party leaders to nominate candidates, signaling the militia’s desire to revive a fictitious alliance with the Sanaa Conference to prolong their destructive war.

Other promises include providing monthly financial support to activate Congress Party branches in the capital Sanaa and other provinces, a move that underlines their intention to use the party as political cover.

The fourth point involves halting media campaigns targeting Ali Abdullah Saleh and the General People’s Congress Party. Lastly, the Houthis pledged to gradually return the party’s assets over the course of a year, provided Congress leaders work to mobilize communities against any military movement targeting the Houthis.

Local and International Isolation

A political source from the Congress Party mocked the Houthi proposal, describing it as a trap to enlist a partner for their schemes while suffering from local and international isolation.

The Houthis, aware of their inevitable demise, are trying to drag the Sanaa Congress Party into a shared downfall. This comes after years of oppression, including threats against Congress leader Sadiq Abu Ras, similar to those against the late Saleh.

Since 2017, the Houthis have detained over 50 Congress Party leaders, including 10 members of its Permanent Committee, and placed first- and second-tier leaders under house arrest with their families.

This new plan aligns with broader Houthi measures, including tribal bribery, holding tribal leaders’ sons as hostages, and imposing a de facto state of emergency to tighten their grip on local populations.