Shia Houthi Rebels and the President of Yemen Reach 'Agreement'

Reports indicate that the President of Yemen, who was under 'house arrest' by Houthi rebels on Wednesday, has reached an 'agreement' with this Shia group to halt hostilities and grant them more powers. The Associated Press, citing a report from Yemen's state news agency, reported on Wednesday, January 21, that Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the President of Yemen, has agreed with the Houthi rebels to cease fighting. The Saba news agency states that in exchange for moving Houthi fighters away from the President's house, Mansur Hadi has promised to grant this group more authority in managing the poorest Arab country. In this context, Reuters reported that Gulf Arab states condemned the actions of the Houthi rebels, labeling the current situation a 'coup,' although the Houthi group and some of the President's aides denied the overthrow of Mansur Hadi. A source close to the Yemeni presidency denied the 'house arrest' of the President, stating that only his house was surrounded by Houthi forces. Reuters writes that in a statement released on Wednesday evening, Mansur Hadi said that the Houthis have the right to be elected to all government positions and that the points of contention between him and the Houthi group in the draft constitution could be negotiated and corrected. According to him, the Houthis have agreed to remove their members from around the presidential palace and his home and to release his chief of staff, who has been detained by the group for several days. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi group, told Reuters that Mansur Hadi is currently at home and has no issues going out. Previously, the Associated Press reported that Houthi fighters had removed the guards from the President's house, positioned their forces in the area, and placed Mansur Hadi under 'house arrest.' The Associated Press's new report states that despite the agreement between the President of Yemen and the Houthi rebels, the question remains as to who is currently governing the country. The agreement also includes the Houthi group promising to release one of the President's aides, who was 'kidnapped' a few days ago. The Saba news agency reports that the agreement between the parties also involves changes to the constitution and granting more power and authority to the Shia Houthi group within the country's government and parliamentary structures. This agreement also calls for Mansur Hadi to quickly prepare a new draft constitution that guarantees increased powers for the Houthis. The previous draft included the establishment of a federal system in six regions of the country, which was opposed by the Houthis, but the new draft states that a federal system will be established, although there is no mention of the six regions. The Houthis, who have intensified their efforts to control Yemen's capital since September of last year and have effectively taken over Sana'a, claim that they only seek equal power in the country, but critics argue that this group wants the President to be merely a ceremonial figure.