The internationally recognized Yemeni government has issued a stark warning to mobile phone companies operating in the country, demanding they relocate their headquarters from Sana'a to the temporary capital, Aden, immediately.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology stated on Friday, June 7, 2024, instructing the companies to "complete the correction of their status urgently" and transfer their main offices to Aden. The statement, published on the ministry's website, emphasized that companies must "immediately review their status with the ministry in the (temporary) capital, Aden, and complete the necessary procedures to rectify their situation."

The ministry further mandated that mobile phone companies relocate their "technical, administrative, and financial headquarters to the (interim) capital, Aden, to obtain the necessary licenses and settle outstanding debts for fees, licenses, and tax status."

The ministry issued a stern warning to non-compliant companies, stating that "legal action will be taken against them per the law, government decisions, and reports from the Central Audit and Accountability Authority regarding this matter."

This move is part of the Yemeni government's ongoing effort to relocate key institutions and businesses from Sana'a to Aden. The government argues that this relocation is necessary to protect these entities from what it describes as "the mischief" of the Houthi group, which it claims is damaging these institutions and the lives of citizens to further its agenda.

In a special meeting on Thursday, the government called for the "swift implementation of the presidential decree regarding the relocation of government agencies and institutions from Sana'a to the temporary capital, Aden, particularly the Social Fund for Development and the Public Works and Roads Project."

According to the state-run Saba news agency, allowing the Houthi group to maintain control over the legal, administrative, and financial centers of revenue-generating agencies and certain funds "will enable them to seize the financial resources in foreign currency of these agencies and funds."

The government's demand for the relocation of mobile phone companies is the latest step in its efforts to assert control over key institutions and resources in the country amidst the ongoing conflict. It remains to be seen how the mobile phone companies will respond to this ultimatum and the potential consequences of non-compliance.