Houthi Group Partially Opens Road After 100 Days of Resistance, Citing Societal Pressure

After over 100 days of refusing to open roads linking Ma'rib and Sana'a, the Houthi group, internationally recognized as a terrorist organization, has partially relented, citing societal pressure. The move comes after a sustained initiative by Major General Sultan Al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council and governor of Ma'rib Governorate, to open all roads connecting the two cities.

On Tuesday afternoon, June 4, 2024, a convoy of travelers from Sana'a and Al-Bayda governorates successfully passed through Houthi security checkpoints north of Al-Bayda, marking the first step in implementing Al-Arada's initiative. The travelers had waited six days for the Houthis' approval to pass, according to local sources who spoke to "Barran Press."

Politicians and researchers have highlighted the significance of opening the road to Nahm, a key route linking Ma'rib and Sana'a, emphasizing its importance for both humanitarian and logistical reasons. The road, which is fully paved and covers a distance of 173 km, can be traversed in two to two and a half hours, offering a significantly shorter and more efficient route compared to the alternative road through Al-Bayda, which spans 525 km and takes 9 to 10 hours to travel.

Sheikh Alawi Al-Basha bin Zaba, a member of the Yemeni Shura Council and Chairman of the Rights Committee in the Arab Parliament, called the opening of the Al-Bayda Road a "good step in the right direction" but criticized the Houthis for their continued refusal to open the Sanaa-Nihm-Ma'rib road. He considers the Houthis' reluctance to open the Nahm road as "evidence of their insistence on the continued suffering of citizens," driven by their self-interests and calculations.

Journalist and researcher Hamdan Al-Ali believes the Houthi group's partial concession is a direct result of continuous societal pressure. He stressed the importance of sustained and collective efforts to ensure the demands of the people are not neglected, stating that "We cannot solely rely on other Yemeni parties that have, in the past and present, worked towards alleviating the suffering of Yemenis in areas controlled by this faction."

Al-Ali pointed out that the governor of Ma'rib had previously announced his readiness to extend the electricity network and services to areas under Houthi control, but the Houthis did not reciprocate. He believes the recent move is a testament to the power of societal pressure, stating that "People cannot obtain their rights unless there is responsible societal pressure; through which this gang can be forced to surrender people's rights."

An inherent human right

In a recent statement to Barran Press, Ahmed Al-Abab, the head of Pathways for Reconciliation and Peace Organization, emphasized the importance of open roads in Marib, highlighting their significance as an inherent human right. Al-Abab pointed out that all roads from the Marib side have been accessible since Major General Sultan Al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Command Council, announced their opening last February.

Al-Abab expressed his disappointment with the Houthis' partial response in opening the Al-Bayda road, citing societal pressure following the Al-Arada initiative as the catalyst. He accused the Houthis of evading the opening of the main road connecting Ma'rib, Nehm, and Sana'a. According to Al-Abab, the Nehm road is the most convenient and direct route, facilitating the smooth movement of commercial trucks. He called upon the Houthis to unconditionally open all main roads across the governorates, emphasizing that it is a fundamental human right.

During his interview with Barran Press, Al-Abab underlined that the Houthi group has no alternative but to open the main roads, as it is crucial for the well-being of citizens and to alleviate their suffering. He reiterated that Marib had already opened all roads three and a half months ago.

Chronological sequence

The sequence of events began on February 22, when Major General Sultan Al-Arada announced the opening of the Marib-Nehm-Sana'a road, along with other routes. Al-Arada stated that the initiative aimed to alleviate the hardships faced by travelers on desert roads, emphasizing the road's opening as a human right. The "Al-Arada Initiative" received widespread support throughout Yemen, including from Houthi supporters. However, the Houthis hesitated and refused to open the Nehm road, instead maneuvering on the Sarwah-Sana'a road.

The Houthis' refusal to open the Nehm road triggered widespread condemnation, as it traversed rough and perilous terrain, making it unsuitable for the movement of trucks and buses. The public outcry escalated into the formation of community committees, which exerted continuous pressure on the Houthis to respond to Major General Al-Arada's initiative.

In an attempt to appease public anger, the Houthis declared the opening of the Ma'rib-Al-Jubayda-Al-Bayda road on May 10. However, the Marib authorities confirmed on May 11 that this road had already been open since the Al-Arada initiative. Despite the Houthis' announcement, they prevented citizens from crossing the road, as documented by Barran Press through video recordings at Houthi checkpoints south of Marib.

On May 14, local authorities in Marib reaffirmed the readiness of the "Al-Falaj" point to facilitate the crossing of travelers, emphasizing that it had been operational for three months under the Al-Arada initiative to unilaterally open roads. The representative of the governorate, Abd Rabbuh, accompanied Muftah and the security services on a field visit to assess the necessary equipment and arrangements at the crossing point.

Amid mounting pressure from the public and community support, the Houthis found themselves with no escape and requested a deadline to study the matter.

Finally, on Tuesday, June 4, the Houthi group announced the completion of military and security measures to open the Al-Bayda Road, more than three months after Major General Al-Arada had unilaterally launched the initiative.