Consider it a remarkable shift.. Research center calls for supporting the government’s approach to combating corruption

An analytical paper recommended, on Friday, the need to support the approach adopted by the government of Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak in combating corruption, stressing that it represents a noticeable shift compared to previous governments.

The paper issued by the Mokha Center for Strategic Studies indicated that this approach faces major challenges, which require the combination of local and international efforts to ensure its continuity and achieve the desired results.

The paper explained that corruption in Yemen has become a chronic phenomenon, pervading state institutions since the unification of the country in 1990, stressing that successive governments, including the government of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, did not take serious measures to combat corruption, as the policies followed were formal, aiming to meet donors’ requirements or use them as a political tool.

The paper highlighted the rampant corruption under the legitimate authority, as the Houthi coup in 2014 led to changes in national priorities, allowing corruption to worsen as a result of the influx of foreign funds and the lack of oversight. Reports from the Central Organization for Control and Accounting revealed that the volume of embezzlement exceeded $1.72 billion, related to issues such as oil purchases, tax revenues, and customs.

In a different context, Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak adopted a clear approach to combating corruption, as he activated the role of the Central Agency for Control and Accounting, published reports exposing corruption in a number of government institutions, and referred corruption cases to the Public Prosecution. He also stressed the importance of adhering to transparency and accountability, warning against covering up for the corrupt.

The current government has taken legal action against a number of accused officials, including the CEO of the Oil Investment Company, who has been referred for investigation for manipulating public funds. Investigations have also been opened into corruption linked to Aden refinery contracts that cost the state more than $180 million over nine years.

The paper warned that corruption has become an existential threat to the legitimate authority, especially with the decline in government resources due to the cessation of oil exports in October 2022, and the decline in financial support provided by the Arab coalition countries. It stressed that the continuation of corruption without strict measures will exacerbate economic crises and increase internal and external pressures on the government, which could seriously weaken its legitimacy.

The paper called for the need to support the Yemeni government in its efforts to combat corruption through several measures, most notably the rapid implementation of the government amendment to ensure the formation of a more efficient and effective government in combating corruption, and enabling the Prime Minister to replace corrupt officials.

It also stressed the importance of enhancing coordination between oversight institutions, the government and the Presidential Leadership Council to adopt a unified policy to combat corruption. The paper pointed to the urgent need for the international community to support the government, especially in the field of financial and economic reforms, in a way that contributes to the stability of the national economy.

The paper indicated that the international community, especially the United Nations and the United Kingdom, showed great interest in the efforts of the Yemeni government, as an international meeting was held in New York in January 2024 to discuss ways to support economic recovery and institutional reforms, with participants affirming their support for the government in its efforts to combat corruption.

The paper concluded that the government's continued approach to combating corruption requires strong internal and external support, and a genuine political will to hold the corrupt accountable without selectivity, noting that the success of these efforts will contribute to strengthening government legitimacy, improving the economic situation, and supporting stability in areas under the control of the legitimate authority.