Abd-Rabbu Mansonour Hadi, Yemeni President, resigned his position today according to a governmental spokesperson. Prior to quitting, groups of Houthi fighters took up positions around the outside of the presidential palace. Where guards usually stood, sentry points were empty. There was even a cluster of Houthis and one army vehicle in the main entrance parking lot. The Houthis were able to overcome guards at the presidential palace, adding to the discord already impacting the country.
After Prime Minister Khaled Baha offered his resignation in government, Hadi, who is a US ally, stepped down abruptly. In a brief statement, Hadi said he was not interested in being pulled into an unconstructive political maze, which many believe was a reference to the stand-off between himself and the Shi’ite Muslim Houthi movement whereby their own president is being held as a virtual prisoner in the official home.
A spokesperson for the government read Hadi’s resignation letter addressed to the speaker of parliament that offered an apology to the Yemeni people, as well as the honorable chamber. Until a new President is appointed, the speaker of parliament will become the interim head of state according to the country’s constitution.
Just the day before resigning, Hadi accepted demands made by the Houthis who demanded larger stakes in political and constitutional arrangements. At that time, it appeared that declining differences between Hadi and the Houthis were easing. With the rise in power by the Houthis, Yemen was forced into a bigger struggle being fought in regions of the Middle Easy by Tehren and Riyadh proxies.
Currently, drone strikes are taking place by the United States against one of the most powerful branches of Al Qaeda. Because of this latest battle, Sanaa, the capital remained completely shut down for most of the day.
It has also been reported that local Yemen tribesmen are trying to push Houthi fighters back in the province of Marib, an area where 50% of the country’s oil and over 50% of electricity are produced. In response to the accent of Houthi attacking their forces, along with military, state, and intelligence targets, the local Al Qaeda branch responded.