Bin Mubarak prevents officials from leaving Aden without approval: 10 years of exile from the presidency and government

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak issued a circular prohibiting officials from leaving the interim capital, Aden, and requiring his written approval for senior state officials to travel. This comes after 10 years of the Yemeni presidency and government failing to return to the country.

This came in a government directive issued last Thursday, March 13th—reviewed by Yemen Youth Net—and widely circulated on social media. The Prime Minister stated that the directive came "based on the directives of the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council."

The Prime Minister's directive coincides with the tenth anniversary of Aden's declaration as the country's temporary capital in March 2015, following the Houthi militia's takeover of the capital, Sana'a, and the departure of former President Hadi to Aden.

The government directive memorandum addressed ministers, their deputies, undersecretaries, governors, and heads of government agencies and institutions. According to the text of the memorandum, "Based on previous circulars regarding not leaving the temporary capital, Aden, without our prior written approval."

The decision comes amid an escalating conflict between Prime Minister Ben Mubarak, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, and several members of the council, as well as several ministers in his government who reside outside the country.

The majority of Yemeni government officials reside in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, while others are based in other countries. They receive their salaries in US dollars but perform no duties, while the Yemeni riyal continues to plummet against foreign currencies.

The Prime Minister had previously issued a number of presidential directives to officials to return to the interim capital, Aden, or other governorates and resume their duties. However, this has not happened, not even from those issuing the directives themselves, whether Presidential Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi or Prime Minister Bin Mubarak.

After the Houthi militias seized control of the capital, Sana'a, former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi declared Aden the country's temporary capital in March 2025. For ten years, they have failed to revitalize state institutions and restore their operations.