Yemeni President Reshuffles Cabinet

SANAA (Sputnik) — Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi issued a decree on Tuesday on the appointment of several new ministers to the government headed by Prime Minster Khaled Bahah.

According to the decree obtained by Sputnik, Foreign Minister Riyad Yassin was dismissed, and will be replaced by Abdul-Malik Mahlafi.

Hadi also appointed a new Interior Minister, Hussein Mohammed Arab. His predecessor, Abdou Hudhayfah, was reassigned, and will now be responsible for domestic intelligence.

The Yemeni president also replaced the heads of the ministries of information, transport and civil service. The head of the latter department, and interior and foreign ministers will become Bahah's deputies.

In January, the conflict between Shiite Houthi opposition insurgents and the Yemeni army escalated as the militants captured vast territories in the country, including its capital Sanaa. President Hadi and Bahah submitted their resignations and the cabinet was dissolved, leaving Yemen without a government.

In late March, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition of Arab states began an aerial operation against Houthi positions in Yemen at Hadi's request. The air campaign was officially declared over in April but the airstrikes have continued.

In October, the returned Yemeni government and the rebels agreed to hold direct talks to resolve the conflict. The Yemeni government made the implementation of UNSCR resolution 2216 a precondition for starting the negotiations, which provides for the withdrawal of armed rebels from the main cities in Yemen, the surrender of their arms and the release of prisoners.