Yemen’s Political Limbo Continues with Al Houthi’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Declaration  · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

A cartoon by Samer Al Shameri summing up the negotiations in Yemen
After Yemen's uncertainty being in political limbo for weeks, the Houthi militia, who took over the capital Sana'a and forced President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and the cabinet to resign last month, announced today that they would dissolve parliament, placing their security and intelligence arm, known as the “Supreme Revolutionary Committee (SRC),” as the ruler of Yemen.
Yemen has been without formal leadership since January 22. Houthi leaders held a three-day national conference, which ended last Sunday, February 1 by giving political factions in Yemen three days to reach an agreement to fill the political vacuum or they would take over.
Yemeni journalist Mohammed Al Qadi tweeted:
A hostage government , a hostage president , a hostage country .#Yemen
— Mohammed al-Qadhi (@mohammedalqadhi) February 2, 2015
As no agreement was reached, the ultimatum was followed by a three-day extension which expired today at 4 p.m. Yemen time, with the announcement of the so called “Constitutional Declaration”. The Houthis dissolved parliament replacing it with a Transitional National Council (TNC) of 551 members, a Presidential Council of five members to be elected by the TNC and subject to approval by the SRC, within a two-year transitional period. The full terms of the declaration was televised from the Republican palace, and translated to English by Haykal Bafana:
here.
These were the initial reactions.
Hisham Al-Omeisy tweeted in dismay:
No elections, no process, no nothing..simply that rev committees now in charge “constitutionally” & have say in Everything! #Yemen
— Hisham Al-Omeisy (@omeisy) February 6, 2015
Nadwa Dawsary highlighted who clearly seems to be in charge:
#Yemen: A supreme revolutionary committee headed by Mohammed Al-Houthis is now in control. The rest are just details. #Houthis
— Nadwa (@Ndawsari) February 6, 2015
Sama Al-Hamdani pointed to the military backing that Houthi seem to be enjoying:
One thing is clear from the audience of the #houthi speech at the republican palace, the Yemeni military is in their hands. #Yemen
— Sama'a Al-Hamdani (@Yemeniaty) February 6, 2015
Journalist Hakim Almasmari tweeted what he had forseen:
Remember this tweet I sent out more than three months ago. Well, “I told you so!” #Yemen pic.twitter.com/IV4wggtelk
— Hakim Almasmari (@HakimAlmasmari) February 6, 2015
Former Minister of Information, Nadia Al-Sakkaf tweeted:
KSA working on a new deal that involved both Islah &GPC to turn the table against #Houthis,sounds familiar? history repeats itself in #Yemen
— Nadia Sakkaf (@NadiaSakkaf) February 6, 2015
Haykal Bafanaa tweeted some realpolitik advice:
Here are some tips for the next UN diplomat who wants to try & fix things for Yemenis : In Yemen, Violence Pays. http://t.co/6TsOg2kZWk
— Haykal Bafana (@BaFana3) February 6, 2015
Meanwhile Hussain Al-Bukhaiti tweeted:
Instead of negotiation in movenpiek it will be in republican palace now,doors r open for partnership in pres council,gov&national congress
— Hussain Albukhaiti (@HussainBukhaiti) February 6, 2015
He added:
No statement from GPC&islah cos the waiting 4 G10,GCC and the UN stand, this show u how they depend on the outside not on the ppl of Yemen
— Hussain Albukhaiti (@HussainBukhaiti) February 6, 2015
While there were celebratory fireworks after the declaration as tweeted by Yemen Updates:
Fireworks and gunfire in #Sanaa and Saada in celebrations of their #Houthi Declaration. #Yemen pic.twitter.com/4fH0vrFimw
— Yemen Updates (@yemen_updates) February 6, 2015
Nasser Maweri tweeted there were opposing demonstrations elsewhere:
Another pic for the protests in #Taiz taking place now against the #houthi_declaration #yemen pic.twitter.com/4nzc86kj82
— Nasser Maweri (@NasserMaweri) February 6, 2015
Journalist Peter Salisbary sarcastically tweets:
Seems the Houthi announcement is going down well. Only opposed by about 2/3 of country so far… #yemen
— Peter Salisbury (@altoflacoblanco) February 6, 2015
Yemenis anticipate at some point a showdown between ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthis, whom appear to be currently working out a partnership.
Yemen Updates tweeted:
The statement reads: “Partners in Coup; Future Enemies” Saleh facilitated Houthi's takeover of Sanaa. #Yemen pic.twitter.com/0s1g7ps6F0
— Yemen Updates (@yemen_updates) February 6, 2015
Jamal Badr tweeted a chart leading to the ultimate showdown, which some anticipate:
الكلاسيكو القادم : the next clasico: صالح vs الحوثي Saleh vs Houthie #اليمن #Yemen :D pic.twitter.com/sF3eUdx40H
— Jamal Badr (@JamalBadr) February 1, 2015
Life goes on for Yemenis despite the political chaos as highlighted in this article by the New York Times:
Difficult is just how life is in Yemen, yesterday, today and every day. It does not matter that the president and his cabinet have resigned, that the government has not functioned for weeks, or that the gunmen in control of the streets say they plan to set up a new regime to their own liking.
Families have always had to struggle to get through their days in a country where the government has long been incapable of delivering essential services.