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The Yemeni state is losing control over key cities as the country heads toward state fragmentation. The political crisis in the capital has handicapped the central government from re-exerting control over these cities.
Another governorate capital fell to militants. Reported Islamist militants attacked the city of Hawta in Lahij governorate at dawn and now control the city and the surrounding areas. Militants have also clashed just outside of Aden.
Protestors turned out in force in many of Yemen’s major cities: Sana’a, Taiz, Hadramawt, Hudaydah, Ibb, Dhamar, and Sa’ada. The continuation of widespread protests in Yemen signals that the Yemeni street will press for its demands to be met.
The Yemeni government accused Qatar of funding the opposition. Yemen’s deputy minister of information said, “The authorities have discovered transactions made through Qatar… We call onto Qatar... to stop financially supporting rifts inside Yemen's army and to work instead on (backing) the country's security and stability.”
The Gulf States have renewed their offer to mediate negotiations. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Abdul Latif al Zayani said, “With regards to Yemen it is clear that the initiative of the five GCC countries ... the latest decision to put it (the initiative) on hold is still ongoing. The Yemeni president has been invited to sign... The five countries are willing to continue in the case that all Yemeni factions request it.” Qatar withdrew from the GCC initiative.
The loss of government control over key cities throughout Yemen is an indicator that the state is undergoing fragmentation. The country also remains at risk of armed conflict.
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