Pro-coalition PM Salem bin Braik refuses to return to Aden amid economic crisis

RIYADH, Oct. 28 (YPA) — Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition–backed Prime Minister Salem bin Braik, currently in Riyadh, has refused to return to Aden amid fears of public unrest over worsening economic conditions, unpaid salaries, and ongoing power outages, sources familiar with the matter said.

“Bin Braik’s decision not to return to Aden was driven by the ongoing salary crisis and the Central Bank’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations to employees,” Majid Al-Daari, editor-in-chief pro-coalition “Observers” website, wrote on X on Monday.

Al-Daari explained that the Central Bank has failed to fulfill its commitments to transfer key revenues back into government accounts, further deepening the crisis.

Al-Daari added that the bank has not implemented commitments to transfer key government revenues to official accounts, exacerbating the crisis.

This comes amid rifts within the Presidential Leadership Council, reflecting tensions between Prime Minister Bin Braik and Central Bank Governor Ahmed Ghalib Al-Maabqi, an ally of Council President Rashad Al-Alimi.

Tensions escalated after Bin Braik rejected Al-Alimi’s proposal to appoint Al-Maabqi as Minister of Finance in recent months. The finance portfolio has remained vacant since Bin Braik assumed office following his appointment by the Saudi-led coalition.

@E.Y.M