Struggle for economic influence in Sanaa. The leadership of the Secretariat House defies those who give it legitimacy and knocks on the doors of Parliament whose directives have been rejected

Yemen

Yamanat – Special

In a further indication of the extent of disagreements within the Sanaa Authority regarding economic influence, the House of Representatives ordered the government to stop work on Joint Resolution No. (1) of 2025 AD, issued by the Ministries of Finance, Economy, Industry and Investment, amid growing voices rejecting the move in the corridors of the Sana’a Chamber of Commerce and Industry. capital secretariat.

The Chamber confirmed in a statement that Parliament approved the formation of an economic committee composed of academics, experts and specialists to study the general economic situation and the controversial decision, in addition to the complaint filed by the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Provincial Chambers, provided that the study includes solutions that balance the interest of the national industry with the rights of manufacturers, consumers, traders and importers, and that takes into account the public interest.

Discussions
In a notable development, Chairman of the Capital Secretariat Chamber, Ali Muhammad Al-Hadi, reassured the private sector that the joint decision was on the verge of being reversed, thanks to ongoing discussions with the government.

This happened during an expanded consultative meeting organized by the Chamber on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in the Palace Hall in Sanaa, Asr district, in the presence of a number of businessmen and traders.

Al-Hadi highlighted “positive indicators” regarding the response of government agencies to the House’s demands to reverse the decision, which was confirmed by the Chamber’s media department in a subsequent news report, highlighting an official meeting held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s Office, attended by the leadership of the House and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mohamed Muftah, during which it was agreed to form a joint working team to continue the discussion and prepare a national workshop to review the decision and policies of Emiratization.

Joint decision
The joint decision includes a definitive ban on the import of a number of products, including: canned liquid milk, industrial juices, mineral water, paper towels, ready-to-use sponges, iron poles and pipes, towels and belts. The decision also stipulated the limitation of imported quantities and the adjustment of customs duties and collection of taxes in the form of a lump sum on products such as: mango pulp, tomato sauce, sparkling water, sugar, halva, baby diapers, ceramics, plastic, bags and packaging bags.

These measures will apply in two stages: the first will begin on July 1, 2025, and the second will come into force at the beginning of next August.

The Chamber challenges the parties that granted it legitimacy
The irony is that the Chamber of Commerce within the secretariat, whose leadership was imposed by the authorities in May 2023 through direct security intervention, is today in direct confrontation with the same ministry that legitimized its leadership, and is engaged in open conflict with it against the backdrop of a common decision.

Conflict of interest
Observers point out that this change reflects a conflict of interests within Sanaa’s circles of authority, particularly in light of the government’s previous rejection of Parliament’s directives regarding the illegality of the storming of the chamber and the change in its leadership, despite a Supreme Court ruling. However, the current House leadership has returned to knocking on the doors of Parliament itself to confront government decisions, reflecting confusion in decision-making centers and conflict in legitimacy credentials within the de facto authority.

A struggle for power and influence
Although the joint decision is presented as a measure to protect national industry and support nationalization programs, the timing, method of approval and rejection of the decision by the chambers of commerce clearly reflect that the decision is not just an economic policy, but rather a tool of economic influence used by the power centers in Sanaa in their fight for interests, levies and trade privileges.

It seems that the coming days will see a further escalation, especially with the second phase of the decision which will come into force on August 1, which places the government before a real test: either continue the decision and challenge the chamber and parliament, or back down to preserve the balance of power.

Yemen