Criticism of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has intensified in recent years, fueled by public demands for basic services and shifting international dynamics linked to the country’s ongoing crisis.
Reform Party: Disappointing Performance
Abdul Razzaq Al-Hijri, a senior member of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah Party) and head of its parliamentary bloc, described the PLC’s performance as “deeply disappointing” during remarks at the third Yemen International Forum, organized by the Sana’a Center for Studies in Jordan.
Al-Hijri outlined Islah’s vision to revitalize the PLC, emphasizing the need to empower local authorities, streamline state revenues, and halt the misuse of public funds. However, he criticized the “clash of political agendas” within the PLC, noting that some factions view the current moment as an opportunity to advance their own political projects—a veiled reference to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a key partner in the leadership body.
He highlighted existential threats, including the Houthi group,
the failure to prepare Aden to function effectively as Yemen’s interim capital, and incomplete implementation of the Riyadh Agreement—particularly its military provisions. Al-Hijri accused the PLC of operating in a “semi-nomadic” manner, failing to unify military forces under its command, and obstructing parliamentary sessions inside or outside Aden.
“Many of the PLC’s mandated tasks remain unfulfilled,” he said, attributing this to internal divisions. “Instead of pursuing projects to rebuild Yemen, parties have prioritized quota-based power-sharing, with each faction seeking to fill voids with their own loyalists.”
Transitional Council: Leadership Council Has “Completely Failed”
Nasser Al-Khubaji, head of the STC’s Political Bureau, launched a scathing attack on the PLC during the same forum, accusing it of “total ineptitude, paralysis, and failure” to achieve any meaningful progress since assuming power.
Al-Khubaji, who advocates for southern Yemen’s secession, claimed the PLC had failed to draft governance frameworks regulating its relationship with the government and local authorities. He cited a “toxic rivalry” between the PLC’s chairman and the prime minister, which he said had “paralyzed all operations,” and accused both leadership and government figures of “fleeing Yemen” and refusing to return to Aden. “Their cumulative time spent in Aden does not exceed one to two months,” he asserted.
Al-Khubaji argued that the PLC is incapable of fulfilling its duties, stating that the responsibilities assigned to it under the transfer of power decree were not executed. He also criticized the lack of a clear vision for dealing with the Houthis—whether politically, militarily, or economically.
He called for a clear vision for the PLC, emphasizing that its formation was not driven by local will but by external regional interests.
Foreign Ministry: Corruption Plagues the Government
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Minister of Expatriate Affairs Shaia Al-Zindani said that one of the major issues facing the current government and the PLC is corruption, which he described as having evolved into a culture, not just a phenomenon, becoming a significant barrier to the functioning of the state and government.
In an interview with
The National
, Al-Zindani stated that the Yemeni government lacks a peace vision for Yemen due to Iran’s backing of the Houthis. While there has been a ceasefire and a significant reduction in military activities, he warned that "we do not see an end to the war anytime soon, nor is there a vision that allows us to say that peace is on the horizon."
He noted that civilians in Yemen continue to suffer from the consequences of the war with each passing day. Al-Zindani expressed hope that by building better relations with neighboring countries, Yemen could serve its national interests more effectively. He added, "Our work is progressing well, and our relations are improving day by day. The government is currently focused on providing a realistic and acceptable level of services to the people, such as healthcare and education, but priorities are constantly shifting in light of the war’s conditions."
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