Houthi militias are striving to form a sect-based political front while maintaining pressure on General People's Congress (GPC) and senior tribal leaders, hoping they join their new-fangled coalition, Sanaa sources told Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran-aligned Houthis, according to the sources, are seeking to form a unified political front under which it will be able to downplay the GPC’s political role and influence, and thwart any internal efforts to form an anti-coup bloc.
The GPC is dominated by a nationalist line, and its official ideology is Arab nationalism, seeking Arab unity--the party's founder and leader former President Ali Abdullah Saleh was shot dead by Houthi militiamen after deciding to switch sides, and abandon the Iran-sponsored coup agenda.
In recent days, Houthi militias have also reached out a number of pro-GPC tribal figures.
According to sources, militia officials have found some success in attracting a number of leaders within the GPC to return to siding with the coup by offering them top positions and funds.
Sources also said that the Houthi strongman and chairman of the group's ruling council, Mahdi al-Mashat, summoned pro-GPC politicians Ali bin Ali al-Qaysi and Ali Abu Halayqa, and stressed to them the importance of convincing other party leaders of siding with Houthis in exchange for both keeping their position in the coup’s self-proclaimed parliament, a body which oversees coup territory.
As Houthis stepped up coercive efforts on party leaders, local GPC officials in Sanaa began regrouping ranks and organizing meetings in an effort to overcome Houthi pressures and continue with their loyalty to former president Saleh.
It is worth noting that Houthis have rushed to secure GPC support as the to liberate Hodeidah, one of their key strongholds.
The military campaign to free the key port city of Hodeidah is being co-led by Tariq Saleh, Saleh’s nephew, government troops, pro-government tribesmen and Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces.
“Coordination and consensus found among GPC leaders - both at home or abroad, desire achieving a just and comprehensive peace to end the suffering of war… The GPC works for the benefit of Yemen and its people in all its components and towards a national partnership does not exclude anyone,” said former GPC leader and former foreign minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi.
