Minister of Local Administration resigns after 24 years of service

The minister’s abrupt resignation has sparked conflict and debate between political factions

Abdul-Qader Ali Hilal

In an unexpected move, the resignation of Minister of Local Administration, Abdul-Qader Ali Hilal was accepted and Vice-PM for Defense Affairs Dr.Rashad al-Alimi was appointed as his replacement.

Informed sources with close links to the resigning Minister Hilal, who was unreachable by phone and refused to speak with the media, said the reason for his resignation was due to the arrest of several of his aides. His aides were arrested while he was presiding over the government's Arbitration Committee seeking to end the Sa’adah war following the end of hostilities with the Houthis. He was also accused of working with the Muslim Brotherhood, the JMP and the Southern Movement.

In his resignation letter to the President, the minister accused the Manager of General Intelligence and his close circle of working against him.

In his message, Hilal said, "I am compelled, following the repeated questioning of my allegiance to my country and my leader, in content to my God and responsibility, preferring death to violating my honor."  Hilal went on to say, "One may make mistakes and I am liable to be held accountable, but 24 years' of work makes me think that I am well past skepticism. The Manager of General Intelligence's investigation over the accusation of the so called mean 'bint al-sahn and the Houthis affair', forced me to resign from my post as Minister of Local Administration, however I remain a loyal citizen." 

Newsyemen.net reported a security report accused Hilal of supporting the Houthis by sending them 'bint  al-sahn, 'a sort of Yemeni food' and other Sana'ani deserts following his return to Sana'a during the last month of Ramadan. This was in the context of continuous efforts by the presidency to change course and resume the Sa'adah war by sending more military supplies, contrary to the recommendations of Hilal's committee, which is the only governmental committee consisting of civilian and military members. 

In a release to al-Ayam newspaper, a source close to Hilal said that the former-minister is depressed that his 24 years of work for the state failed to protect him against the machinations of certain individuals who drove the country into disaster by engaging it in destructive conflicts.

The source said that Hilal will hold a press conference to express his position in the coming days.

Press sources said that Yaser al-Awadhi; a GPC member of the General People's Conngress (GPC) froze his membership in the committee in solidarity with Hilal. 

In the first GPC response, the GPC spokesman told the Yemen Observer that recent events are a governmental affair, and have nothing to do with the GPC as a ruling party. 

Tariq al-Shami denied that the resignation had any link to disputes in the GPC.
Regarding al-Awadhi's position, al-Shami said that it is a personal decision and does not represent the views of the GPC. In a related issue, former state minister al-Kolani published a hand written response to official leaks, saying he will cede his deposits to anyone who proves that he has $81 million in investment projects, according to Elaphweb.

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