Senior Houthi leader resigns over 'autocratic' fears

Spokesman and member of Houthis political bureau Ali al-Bakhaiti announced on Friday his resignation from his rebel Shia group, warning of “sectarian and regional polarisation” as well as “autocratic” tendencies.

Writing on Twitter, he sent a message to the leader of the Shia group Abdel-Malek al-Houthi telling him: “I stepped down as I want to consolidate national unity and reduce the level of political polarisation, which has become sectarian and regional and now threatens the national unity.”

He added that his resignation would allow him to stop the complete breakdown of the state and its institutions, hoping “to reach a political reconciliation that maintains the dignity, unity, security and safety of the country, as well as to protect its social unity.”

Al-Bukhaiti said that he informed the Houthi’s leader that he wiling to become a political ally of the group on condition that they worked to achieve a common objective, which is to bring an end to the traditional centres of power, foreign influence on the country and build a civil state with equal citizenship.

During his time with the Houthis, Al-Bukhaiti said he suffered attacks from “opportunists” who “maligned” his image.

Al-Bukhaiti said that the Houthis are turning away from the “civil path” to the “logic of force” after they took control of the capital in September last year. He noted that the Houthis became the main power in Sanaa since that time.

He called for the Houthis to “respect” their change from being an opposition to a ruling group; hence the need to “end” the military and security pressure and return to the political path.

Additionally, he warned the group of taking full responsibility over the whole country and its institutions during this “difficult time.”

Events in Yemen have progressed swiftly since the resignation of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his Prime Minister Khaled Bahah days after gunbattles broke out in the capital and the Houthis layed siege to their houses.