Yemeni Government Calls on Banks to Relocate Headquarters to Aden After US Sanctions on Yemen International Bank
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism in the Yemeni government, Muammar Al-Eryani, stressed the necessity of all Yemeni banks relocating their main headquarters to the interim capital, Aden, in line with the directives of the internationally recognized legitimate government.
The call came within the framework of preserving the integrity of the banking sector and keeping it away from the control of the Houthi militia, which he accused of exploiting financial resources to finance its “sabotage” activities.
Al-Eryani pointed out that the continued operation of banks in Houthi-controlled areas exposes the national economy to the risk of collapse, calling on businessmen and the private sector to bear national responsibility and stop any financial or commercial dealings with the designated terrorist militia.
He warned that cooperation with terrorist groups could expose those involved to legal accountability and international sanctions.
On another note, the Yemeni minister praised the position of the US administration led by President Donald Trump in its “firm confrontation” of the Iranian-backed militias, stressing that the recent US measures limit the Houthis’ ability to threaten international navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.
He called on the EU, the UK, and the international community to follow similar steps by classifying the Houthis as a terrorist organization and imposing sanctions that include asset freezes and travel bans to prevent the financing of their activities that threaten the security of Yemen and the region.
This statement comes after the US Treasury Department announced in a statement today, Thursday, the imposition of sanctions on the Yemen International Bank and three senior officials in the bank for providing financial support to the Houthis.
The sanctions also included three individuals in the leadership of the Yemen International Bank: Kamal Hussein Al-Jabri, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Ahmed Thabet Noman Al-Absi, Chief Executive Officer; and Abdulqader Ali Bazerah, Deputy General Manager, for their role in supporting the Houthis’ activities by facilitating financial transactions.
