Barran Press
The Yemeni military's financial woes have taken a turn for the worse, with soldiers stationed in Ma'rib and liberated areas facing delays in receiving their April and May salaries. A source within the Ministry of Defense's financial department, speaking anonymously, attributed the delays to a combination of bank issues and ongoing financial cuts.
The source revealed that the Ministry of Finance released funds for the April and May salaries on June 12th, directing the money to the Central Bank of Yemen. The Central Bank then instructed the funds to be deposited into accounts at specific banks: Al-Qutaibi Bank and Al-Kuraimi Bank.
However, Al-Qutaibi Bank reportedly declined to process the payments, citing a lack of liquidity and promising to release the funds after the Eid al-Adha holiday. Al-Kuraimi Bank, on the other hand, only processed the April salaries for certain areas and the social welfare department, citing similar liquidity issues and promising to release the May salaries after the holiday.
The source further explained that the delays are compounded by ongoing financial cuts imposed by the Ministry of Finance, which has been deducting 1.456 billion riyals from military salaries every month since 2022. These deductions, totaling 40 billion riyals, have been authorized despite a directive from President Rashad Al-Alimi to halt them over a year ago.
The source highlighted the impact of these cuts, stating that they have resulted in the military's inability to pay December salaries and have disrupted the regular disbursement of paychecks. The financial department is actively seeking solutions to address these issues and ensure that soldiers receive their due compensation.
Efforts are underway by the General Staff leadership to address this problem, including calls for a unified salary system for all military branches and a resolution to the financial discrepancies within the Ministry of Defense. The source emphasized the importance of these measures to maintain the unity and cohesion of the national military institution.
The Ministry of Defense has been instructed to process salary payments through commercial banks, despite objections from military leaders who prefer to maintain control over the distribution of funds. President Al-Alimi has directed the implementation of government reforms, including the use of government banks to safeguard sensitive information.
Despite these directives, the source acknowledged ongoing challenges, including the reluctance of commercial banks to process payments due to insufficient liquidity, which further contributes to delays in salary disbursements.
The Ministry of Finance had previously announced the release of funds for April salaries on June 2nd, indicating that the disbursement process is coordinated with the Ministry of Defense. President Al-Alimi has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to unifying the military and security institutions and ensuring regular salary payments.
The latest developments highlight the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Yemeni military, which are further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and the complex political landscape. It remains to be seen how the government will address these issues and ensure the financial well-being of its soldiers.