Yemen’s Houthis planning mass arrests of Saleh loyalists

Houthis and supporters of ousted leader Ali Abdullah Saleh gather to protest the Saudi-led operations during a rally on the second anniversary of the Operation Decisive Storm at al-Sabin Square in Sanaa, Yemen on 26 March, 2017 [Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency]

The Houthi armed group has prepared a long list of President Ali Abdullah Saleh loyalists to arrest, Sky News Arabia reported.

The names include military, security and political leaders loyal to Saleh who are to be arrested on various charges. It is unclear what the charges are, and why this has occurred at this time.

The Houthi armed group has a track record of arresting individuals for dissenting against their governance in Yemen. Prominent activist and journalist Hisham Al-Omeisy was arrested by the Houthis in August. Al-Omeisy’s location remains unknown and his family has still not heard from him.

The Houthi and Saleh alliance has weakened over the course of the Yemen civil war since 2014. A rift between the two parties erupted early this year, with accusation that each party has not been loyal to the other. In May, the Houthis threatened to assassinate Saleh, causing a further rift in the alliance.

Read: Houthi fighters and Saleh supporters clash in Sanaa

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