Barran Press
The Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, announced on Monday, June 3rd, 2024, the completion of what they described as "military and security procedures" to open the road connecting Al-Bayda, Al-Jouba, and Marib. This comes after approximately four months since the announcement of the "Al-Arada" initiative by Sultan Al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, to unilaterally open the roads.
According to the Yemeni news agency Saba (in its Houthi version), Yahya Al-Razami, the head of the Houthi military committee, declared the completion of "military and security procedures and the opening of the Al-Bayda-Al-Jouba-Marib route according to the measures taken."
In May 10th, the group designated as a terrorist organization had announced the opening of the same road. However, they had not allowed travelers to pass through it until now.
The local authorities in Marib Governorate (northeastern Yemen) expressed their surprise at the Houthi's "delay" in responding to the "opening roads" initiative since February.
A statement from a responsible source in the local authorities of Marib Governorate, received by "Barran Press," confirmed that all roads from Marib Governorate have been open since February 22nd, 2024.
The Houthi response comes after significant public pressure and demands for the opening of roads. A community initiative from Al-Bayda to travel on the road even reached Qanieh, where Houthi elements stopped them and requested a six-day delay.
On February 22nd, 2024, Sultan Al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, announced the unilateral opening of the road connecting Marib and Sana'a via "Faradah Nahm." He called on the other party (the Houthis) to take a similar step and remove the issue of roads from political considerations.
Al-Arada stated during the announcement of his initiative, which came in response to widespread popular demands for the warring parties in Yemen to open roads and alleviate the suffering of citizens, "We do not see any harm in citizens crossing the roads."
He expressed the political and military leadership's readiness to unilaterally open other roads, including (Marib-Al-Bayda-Sana'a) and (Marib-Sarwah-Sana'a), hoping for a response from the other party (the Houthis) to this initiative, which primarily aims to alleviate the suffering of citizens and facilitate their travel and movement.
Major General Sultan Al-Arada's step was met with widespread official and popular welcome. However, the Houthi group shirked responsibility by creating side conditions, evaded the initiative, and instead announced the opening of secondary roads in Taiz Governorate, which they have been besieging for nine years.