Barran Press
On December 29, 2024, an official document revealed that Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council had dismissed three high-ranking officials from the Prime Minister's office in connection with the disappearance of financial checks. The council has mandated further investigation into the allegations against them.
According to the document obtained by "Bran Press," the council approved the dismissal of Anis Awdh Baharitha, Director of the Prime Minister’s Office; Ali Mohammed Al-Naimi, Deputy Director; and Mutai Ahmed Damaj, Secretary-General of the Cabinet. This decision follows a special report on necessary reforms within the Prime Minister's office, presented by council member and committee chairman, Major General Abdul Rahman Al-Mahrami Abu Zar'a.
The council has instructed relevant authorities to complete investigations into the charges against the dismissed officials and submit findings within a month. The decision is effective from December 18, 2024.
A government source confirmed the authenticity of the document, stating that Prime Minister Ahmed Awdh Ben Mubarak remains opposed to the dismissal and has yet to implement the council's decision. The source, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, noted that Ben Mubarak believes he alone has the authority to dismiss staff from his office.
On November 2, 2024, Prime Minister Ben Mubarak had tasked the Central Organization for Control and Auditing with reviewing all activities of the Cabinet's General Secretariat amid allegations of missing checks. He directed the head of the auditing body to assemble a team of specialists to investigate the recent claims regarding the disappearance or cancellation of checks.
According to the state news agency Saba, Ben Mubarak also ordered an investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of official documents via social media.
On October 30, 2024, a formal document accused Anis Baharitha of obstructing the work of a committee investigating legal violations related to the missing checks. The document, reviewed by "Bran Press," highlighted an incident where Baharitha disrupted an internal meeting concerning the investigation, allegedly citing orders from the Prime Minister as a justification for his actions.
The incident reportedly caused chaos within the General Secretariat, drawing attention from present staff. The committee's work was hampered by Baharitha's disruptive behavior, raising concerns about violations of established protocols within the Prime Minister’s office.