Yemen: Houthi militias sign an oil agreement with China… and the legitimate government responds

The Houthi terrorist militia, through its locally and internationally unrecognized government, has signed an agreement with the Chinese government regarding oil exploration operations in Yemen.

According to the pro-Iran militia news agency Saba, the Ministry of Oil and Minerals signed a memorandum of understanding with the Anton Company and the Chinese government’s representative for investment in oil exploration in the Republic of Yemen, even though all oil exploration areas in Yemen are under the control of the legitimate government.

“The memorandum of understanding was signed after numerous negotiations and co-ordination were held with several foreign companies to convince them to invest in this field in light of available investment opportunities and the benefits and facilities that investment companies will receive in this vital and important sector,” the news agency said.

The Yemeni government described the Houthis’ announcement to sign a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese oil company for investment in the oil sector as “media and political consumption”.

A government official in the Ministry of Oil and Minerals said in a press statement published by Mashhad Yemeni website today that the agreement is for media and political consumption by the Houthis, and that the Yemeni government will contact the Chinese side to clarify the matter, according to the website.

Deputy Minister Shawqi Mekhlafi said, “We will coordinate with the concerned authorities in the government to address the Chinese government, its embassy, and the said company.

This comes as oil exports in governorates under the control of the Yemeni government have been disrupted for eight months, following attacks by the Houthis on a number of oil ports.