Yemen Monitor / Marib / Exclusive:
Abdulrazzaq Al-Hijri, a member of the Supreme Authority of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Al-Islah) and head of its parliamentary bloc, confirmed that the party is not conducting any side dialogues with the Houthi group. He described the conflict with them as an “existential dispute” that surpasses traditional political differences.
In an interview with the “Bila Qiyood” program on BBC Arabic, monitored by Yemen Monitor, Al-Hijri stressed that any future rapprochement is contingent upon ending the coup, restoring the state’s sovereign status, and the state’s monopoly on weapons.
Position on the Houthis and Exploitation of Gaza File
Al-Hijri clarified that the severance with the Houthi group stems from a deep conviction that the group is not serious about peace, noting that all past experiences have proven their use of dialogue as a military tactic to catch their breath and remobilize.
He added that the party proceeds from national principles that see the “Houthi coup as a danger to the identity of the Yemeni state and its social fabric, which currently makes the space for direct understanding non-existent.”
In a related context, Al-Hijri launched a sharp attack on the Houthi exploitation of events in Gaza, considering what the group is doing in the Red Sea a blatant attempt to “whitewash its crimes” against Yemenis and evade internal obligations.
He affirmed that supporting the Palestinian cause is a principled stance for all Yemenis, but the Houthis are exploiting it politically to impose a lost legitimacy and attract international interventions that further complicate the Yemeni scene.
Internal Relations and Stance on the “STC” and the Coalition
Regarding the relationship with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Al-Hijri distinguished between the nature of the dispute with the Houthis and the dispute with legitimacy partners, describing the latter as a “political disagreement in visions” under the umbrella of the state.
Al-Hijri called for the necessity of implementing the military and security aspects of the Riyadh Agreement and integrating all armed formations under the Ministries of Defense and Interior. He considered the absence of this integration as the main cause of tensions in the liberated and eastern provinces.
Concerning regional allies, Al-Hijri described the relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as “strategic and fateful” for protecting Yemeni and Arab national security. He also expressed the party’s openness to strengthening the relationship with the United Arab Emirates, affirming there is no animosity towards it, appreciating its sacrifices within the Arab Coalition, and expressing hope to overcome any political “apprehensions” through sincere dialogue that serves Yemen’s interest and stability.
Structural Reforms and Denial of External Allegiance
On the organizational level, Al-Hijri revealed a “silent revolution” within the corridors of the Al-Islah party, involving extensive renewal of local leaderships in the provinces reaching up to 90%.
He indicated that the party’s General Secretariat now relies on young cadres by 70%, a step aimed at keeping pace with political changes and pushing forward new blood capable of leading the next phase with an open national spirit.
Al-Hijri reiterated his absolute denial of any organizational affiliation with the “International Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood,” confirming that Al-Islah is a party of Yemeni origin and decision-making, with its agenda focused exclusively within the Yemeni national framework.
He stressed that accusations of external allegiance are political “propaganda” used by hostile parties, while reality proves that the party is the fundamental pillar of the republic and one of the greatest defenders of Yemeni sovereignty against cross-border projects.
