The Central Bank of Yemen branch in Marib, northeastern Yemen, has reopened six bank branches after they were closed on Sunday, July 14th, 2024, following orders from the Houthi-controlled capital Sana'a.

Jamal al-Kamil, the branch manager, told "Barran Press" that the Marib branch had received instructions from the governor of the Central Bank in Aden, Ahmed bin Ahmed Ghaleb al-Ma'abqi, to reopen the branches. The banks had been closed earlier in the day after receiving orders from Sana'a, which is controlled by the Houthi group, and designated as a terrorist organization by the international community.

This closure defied the decisions of the Central Bank in Aden, which is under the control of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

Security sources in Marib confirmed that security forces in the province conducted a security operation to force the six banks, subject to Central Bank sanctions, to reopen their branches after they had been closed for several hours. The sources told "Bran Press" that the operation compelled the six branches to open their doors to customers in Marib, hours after they were closed simultaneously with branches in Aden, Taiz, and other provinces under government control.

Earlier on Sunday, banking sources reported that the banks subject to sanctions by the Central Bank of Yemen had closed their branches in Aden, the temporary capital of the country, Taiz, and Marib before reopening later.

The banks that closed their branches were Al-Kureimi Bank, Al-Tadamun Bank, Yemen and Kuwait Bank, Al-Amal for Microfinance Bank, Yemen and Bahrain Comprehensive Bank, and Yemen International Bank. This was despite being exempted from the Central Bank's decision, which included halting the operations of their main branches in Houthi-controlled areas for failing to comply with the directive to relocate their headquarters from Sana'a to Aden.

Security authorities in Marib have emphasized their zero-tolerance policy towards any attempts to smuggle currency, amid concerns about the smuggling of old currency to Houthi-controlled areas.

Abdullah al-Sabry, commander of the Special Security Forces in Marib, stated that security forces "will not tolerate any threat to public order, and will not tolerate any attempts to smuggle currency or prohibited items," according to the Security Media Center of the Ministry of Interior.

In a speech to members of the Special Forces after a symbolic parade, al-Sabry urged them to adhere to legal procedures at the province's entrances, highlighting the security and combat readiness to confront what he described as "elements of sabotage, smuggling, and those who seek to disrupt the security and stability of the citizens in the province."

Last week, the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden revoked the licenses of Al-Kureimi Bank, Al-Tadamun Bank, Yemen and Kuwait Bank, Al-Amal for Microfinance Bank, Yemen and Bahrain Comprehensive Bank, and Yemen International Bank for failing to comply with the order to relocate their headquarters to Aden.

The decision exempted the branches of the violating banks located in areas under the control of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, allowing them to continue operating "until further notice."

On May 30th, the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden issued a decision to halt transactions with six Yemeni banks and financial institutions after a 60-day deadline for implementing the decision to relocate their headquarters to Aden expired.