ADEN — Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has dismissed Transport Minister Abdulsalam Humaid and Planning and International Cooperation Minister Waed Badheeb and referred them for investigation, as part of a series of emergency measures taken amid escalating security tensions in the country's southern governorates. The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the council on Wednesday, chaired by President Rashad Al-Alimi and attended by council members Sultan Al-Arada, Tareq Saleh, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, Abdullah Al-Alimi and Othman Mujalli, according to Yemen's state news agency SABA. The council reviewed a comprehensive briefing on the repercussions of one member's failure to respond to an invitation from Saudi Arabia, alongside unilateral moves that it said constituted a clear breach of the transitional framework and undermined efforts to protect civilians and prevent the spread of violence. In this context, the council decided to strip Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi of his membership and refer him to the public prosecutor on charges of high treason, harming the political and economic standing of the Republic of Yemen, obstructing state efforts to confront the coup, and inciting internal strife. The meeting reviewed recent security and military developments in the south in light of a statement by the Joint Forces Command of the Arab coalition, which cited serious escalatory actions by rebellious leaders and attempts to undermine de-escalation efforts. The council said the dismissal of the two ministers and their referral for investigation was part of broader measures to address actions that threaten civil peace, undermine state authority and violate the legal and constitutional framework governing the transitional period. The meeting also discussed the repercussions of unilateral actions by some officials that the council said constituted a clear breach of the transitional references, weakened efforts to protect civilians and risked expanding internal violence. The council stressed that the state would pursue and arrest those involved in distributing weapons and threatening public security, and would deal firmly with any violations in a manner that upholds the rule of law and protects public rights and freedoms. It reaffirmed that unity of military and security decision-making and respect for the chain of command are non-negotiable principles, warning that any serious breach would place those responsible under legal accountability in accordance with the constitution and the law. The council approved urgent measures to protect civilians and public facilities in Aden and other liberated governorates, unify command and control over all military and security formations, and prevent any movements or mobilization outside the framework of the state. It also renewed its appreciation for Saudi Arabia and the Arab coalition for their efforts to reduce escalation, protect civilians and maintain security and stability, while calling on citizens to cooperate fully with security authorities and report any activities that could endanger public safety.
