The internationally recognized government in Yemen surprisingly appointed Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as the new prime minister on Monday. Bin Mubarak replaces the previous head of government Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, who in turn was appointed presidential advisor, as the official Saba news agency reported with reference to the Yemeni Presidential Council. A reason for the move was not given.
The change comes against the backdrop of increasing tensions in the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Following attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia on merchant ships in the Red Sea, the US and Britain have carried out several retaliatory attacks in Yemen in recent days. Bin Mubarak, who was formerly Yemen's ambassador to the United States, is considered an opponent of the Houthi militia and was kidnapped by the militants in 2015 and held captive for several days. In 2018, the diplomat was appointed Yemen's ambassador to the UN.
Mohammed Al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the U.S.-based research group Navanti, said bin Mubarak was considered one of the “architects of the Saudi-led coalition” that moved against the Houthis in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government – a year after the militia captured the capital Sanaa.
“It is unlikely that the Houthis will welcome bin Mubarak's appointment,” the expert said. The move is “likely to further escalate tensions between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government.”he added.
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