Technical Education and Vocational Minister Mohsen Ali al-Nakib announced on Tuesday his defection from the Iran-backed Houtihi militias’ government.
His decision drove more chaos in the ranks of the militant group, particularly as Saudi-backed forces made several advances in the strategic port city of Hodeidah.
Following his arrival to Saudi Arabia, Nakib told Ashaq Al-Awsat that he had rejected the Houthis’ meddling in his work, revealing that he had obstructed their plans.
“Houthis exercised financial corruption at the Commerce and Industry Ministry after they drained its general revenues and monopolized oil and gas,” he added.
Moreover, he remarked that the Houthis lost their popular and political cover after they assassinated former President and head of the General People's Congress party Ali Abdullah Saleh in December 2017.
Nakib said the assassination had paved the way for his retreat from the government before he decided to flee to Riyadh and announce his defection.
The move comes only few days after Information Minister in the Houthi government, Abdulsalem Jaber, announced his defection before fleeing to Riyadh.
Jaber had revealed in a press conference Sunday that he was among the team that conducted a “misinformation campaign” in Yemen.
The defection of the two ministers come as Saudi-backed forces loyal to the internationally recognized government were fiercely fighting with Houthis in Hodeidah.
In a related development, Yemeni Minister of State Salah al-Sayadi revealed on his Facebook page that the Houthi leader and minister of youth and sports in the Houthi government, Hassan Zaid, had asked him to mediate with the legitimate government to facilitate his defection.
However, Zaid denied the reports.
On the battlefield, Hodeidah was relatively calm after fierce clashes on Sunday.
UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths said the international organization was ready to again hold consultations with concerned parties to reach an agreement over the city.
