The Illusion of Governance: Yemen's Endless 'New' Cabinets
FIRST INSTANCE: Proxy Governance and the 'Legitimate' Authority (1962 onwards) The notion of an internationally recognized, externally backed government in Yemen battling internal factions is not new. The 1962 North Yemen Civil War saw Egypt and Saudi Arabia back opposing sides, setting a precedent for regional powers meddling in Yemeni political structures. The 'legitimate' authority was often
defined by its external sponsors, not popular mandate. Fast forward to the present, the current Saudi-backed Hadi government (later Presidential Leadership Council) was formed after the Houthi takeover of Sanaa in 2014, and subsequent Saudi-led intervention in March 2015. The international community's recognition of this exiled government, despite its limited control on the ground, mirrors a
long-standing pattern of privileging external influence over internal realities. REPETITIONS: The Cycle of 'Unity' Governments and Futile Reshuffles (2016, 2020) This isn't the first, nor will it be the last, 'new' cabinet. In 2016 , the Hadi government announced a similar reshuffle, attempting to consolidate power amidst expanding Houthi control. The move was largely symbolic, failing to stem the
shifting tides of the conflict. Again, in December 2020 , another cabinet was formed as part of the Riyadh Agreement, an attempt to bridge the gap between the Hadi government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), another Saudi-backed entity. This 2020 cabinet, too, was hailed as a step towards unity and peace. Yet, the war raged on, and internal divisions within the anti-Houthi bloc