Barran Press
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the National Coalition of Political Parties and Components, opposing the Houthi group classified as a terrorist organization, was officially announced in Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen. Dr. Ahmed bin Daghr, the first deputy of the General People's Congress, was chosen as the rotating president of the coalition.
The coalition, comprising 21 political parties and components, affirmed in its declaration statement, received by "Barran Press," its commitment to the constitution, existing laws, and national, regional, and international references. It also pledged to uphold the principles of political pluralism, justice, partnership, and transparency.
The coalition outlined 11 goals, including "restoring the state, unifying Yemeni forces to confront the rebellion and end the coup, and addressing the southern issue as a key matter and a gateway to resolving national issues with a specific framework in the final solution."
Other goals include "preserving the republican system within a federal state, maintaining the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the republic, agreeing on a common vision for the peace process, supporting state authorities to unify their decision-making and extend their influence over the entire national territory, and strengthening Yemen's relationship with neighboring countries, the Arab region, and the international community."
The coalition stated that its primary motivation is "to enhance national alignment to end the Houthi militia coup and restore the state, and it is not directed against any political partners." It was established with a national will, responding to calls from political forces to create a broad alliance that includes all components supporting legitimacy to align with the Presidential Leadership Council.
The announcement followed a series of meetings over the past period, involving various political parties and forces, except for the Southern Transitional Council, which announced its non-participation in the coalition for unspecified reasons.
While the Southern Transitional Council's spokesperson did not provide reasons for their non-participation, the council had previously attacked the outcomes of the coalition's preparatory meetings, rejecting them as an attempt to "revive a dead body."
Following a political parties' meeting in late April, the Southern Transitional Council described the outcomes as a betrayal of their duties and popular bases in the northern provinces, leaving them vulnerable to the Houthis. The council accused the parties of trying to revive themselves after failing in their strongholds and exploiting the freedom and stability in Aden.
The council warned that such provocative moves would return matters to the initial conflict stage and hinder peace efforts.
While the Southern Transitional Council's followers opposed the announcement, the Yemeni government and other supporting political components welcomed the coalition's formation. The announcement also received numerous reactions on social media from politicians, writers, and activists.
An Important Step
Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said they view the coalition as "a new voice, a renewed vision, and a tool for constructive change in our beloved country, adding to the efforts to unite ranks and pave the way to save Yemen from the clutches of the Houthi militia."
In his speech at the coalition's announcement, bin Mubarak expressed the government's full openness to positively interact with this national effort, leading to unifying efforts to restore the state, defeat the coup, and achieve peace, which will significantly alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Former Minister of Local Administration and Chairman of the Supreme Relief Committee, Abdul Raqeeb Fateh, considered the coalition's announcement "an important step to unify the republican ranks and direct all efforts to confront the Houthi coup and its various orientations."
In a post on his X account, monitored by "Barran Press," Fateh said, "The establishment of the National Coalition is a clear indication that Yemen will not be a base for Iran's expansionist project but a protector and supporter of Arab and Gulf national security."
Fateh added that the coalition president's speech identified Yemen's problems and obstacles and clearly outlined how to solve them through a federal state capable of ending the multiple injustices caused by the mismanagement of the central state.
He emphasized that the clarity of the problem and its causes among the coalition president and members should be reflected in the media discourse for the new phase and diplomatic work.
For all this to succeed, he said, "it is essential that the fieldwork by the national army and national resistance men is the path and guarantee to achieve all the coalition's goals and ambitions and impose peace and its requirements."
Bin Daghr: The Good News
Yemeni writer Yassin Al-Tamimi, in a lengthy article on his X account, said, "The good news is that the coalition chose Dr. Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr as its president, a national figure worthy of respect."
Al-Tamimi's optimism about bin Daghr's selection stems from "his clear vision regarding the future of the unified Yemeni state and his consistent political principles and mature understanding of historical movements, given his known expertise in history."
However, Al-Tamimi believes that this coalition "will have a destructive impact on the political roles of major political parties and components, which are expected to drown in building consensus among parties and components that no longer have a real impact on the Yemeni scene."
He argues that this situation "forces major parties to make concessions that undermine their role, weight, and contribution in facing political and field challenges and securing guarantees to protect national interests."
A Glimmer of Hope
Political analyst Dr. Omar Radman sees the coalition's announcement as "a glimmer of hope in a time of regional transformations and the pivotal moment Yemen is experiencing after ten dark years of coup and rebellion against the state, national consensus, and stalled regional and international initiatives."
In a lengthy article on the official Al-Thawra Net website, Radman said, "This national gathering of political parties and components from the north and south reflects a sense of responsibility towards the nation and citizens."
Radman expressed disappointment at the Southern Transitional Council's non-participation, saying, "We wished the national picture would be complete with the participation of the Southern Transitional Council in the national political consensus."
However, Radman remains hopeful that the Southern Transitional Council will join the coalition soon, describing this step as "an achievement aligned with Yemenis' aspirations to strengthen state institutions and lead them towards ending the coup and rebellion, completing the restoration of state institutions, and achieving just and comprehensive peace and sustainable stability."
Increased Responsibility
Radman pointed to the "popular frustration resulting from previous experiences in unifying national ranks with their capabilities and resources within the legitimacy camp to achieve national goals and the aspirations and hopes of the Yemeni people."
He said this frustration "doubles the responsibility on the components of the coalition of political parties and components, led by the national figure Dr. Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr, in its first term, to restore public confidence in the possibility of opening windows of light in the walls of blockage and stagnation in the deadly negativity."
This can be achieved, according to Radman, through "the concerted efforts of all sincere partners in national political work and moving towards unifying military and security formations so that political and field paths work together to make a difference."
Additionally, this can be done by "learning from previous experiences by developing national political action dynamics capable of achieving real accomplishments on the ground for legitimacy, not just announcements and declarations."
He stressed that "the leaders of parties and components and all good Yemenis and their legitimate leadership must recognize the opportunities provided by current local, regional, and international changes and work diligently and sincerely to invest them in achieving major national goals and creating the honorable future Yemenis aspire to and deserve."
A Delayed Step
Academic Dr. Yahya Al-Ahmadi, in a post on his X account, said, "After 10 years of state abduction and the destruction of every dream, the coalition of Yemeni political parties and components was announced today."
Dr. Al-Ahmadi criticized the lack of required interaction with the event, saying, "The news, despite its importance, did not receive the required interaction. Why?"
Journalist Ibrahim Abdelkader said the coalition's announcement was "a delayed step in the right direction."
The most important thing, according to Abdelkader, is "that its goal and purpose should be to confront the dangers facing Yemen, primarily the Houthi aggression, which has left millions kidnapped, displaced, hostage, hungry, poor, tortured, and killed."
A Last Chance
Former Minister of State for Implementing National Dialogue Outcomes and Deputy Secretary-General of the National Dialogue, Yasser Al-Ru'aini, praised the formation of the National Coalition of Political Parties and Components, describing it as "the broadest national alliance in modern Yemeni history."
In a post on his X account, the former minister expressed hope that the coalition would "play a role in unifying and strengthening efforts to restore the state, end the coup, and achieve peace and stability."
He said this is "the last chance for these political components to present sincere and tangible roles and visions to support the legitimate authority in overcoming its weak performance and restoring the state's prestige and institutions domestically and internationally."
Al- Ru'aini called on "all active leaders and forces to organize themselves into political currents to enhance democracy and the republican approach and enrich the national scene with active political banners."