Yemeni coups are raiding the markets to impose a new price for commodities

​After the overthrow of the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the hijacked Yemeni capital, Sana’a, which led the objections to the approach of the Houthi militia against the commercial sector, the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the unrecognized Houthi government resumed campaigns of raids on shops, blackmailing merchants, under the guise of applying binding pricing for goods, and threatening Its leaders took harsh measures against those who objected to this, including the final closure of companies or shops.

Sources in the commercial sector in Sana’a told Asharq Al-Awsat that teams affiliated with the Houthi militia deployed in the capital’s districts and raided shops and companies, under the pretext of ensuring their compliance with the pricing set by the group under the supervision of Mahdi Al-Mashat, who heads the militia’s governing council in the areas under its control. Which was rejected by the General Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and considered it a violation of the constitution and the law.

The sources indicated that this step came after the end of the one-week deadline given to the merchants. Where the Houthi Minister of Industry, Muhammad Mutahar, and with him the Houthi leader in control of Sanaa, Khaled Al-Madani, supervised the storming of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, removed its elected leadership headed by the well-known businessman Hassan Al-Kbous, and installed Ali Al-Hadi – a militia member – in his place, although he is not Known in the business community before.

Two shop owners in the Al-Sabeen district, south of the capital, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthi leader, Muhammad Al-Washli, director general of the directorate, led the campaign that targeted shops and corporate headquarters, under the pretext of monitoring the implementation of the new price list for foodstuffs and arresting those who did not adhere to it. .

In statements reported by the militia media, the Houthi leader Al-Washli accused the merchants of doubling the suffering of the population, and urged the inspectors to intensify field visits and take strict measures against anyone who violates the upper price ceilings set by the group, while the director of the industry office in the Haddah sector, Abdul Karim, threatened Sharaf El-Din, to take deterrent measures against violators of the new price list.

With merchants and shop owners confirming that they are being subjected to new extortion; Where the Houthi minister released these inspectors to raid their shops under the pretext of monitoring adherence to pre-determined prices. Vendors in the old city of Sana’a said that Houthi inspection teams deployed since the beginning of working hours in the city’s markets, to impose new prices, and that they obligated the vendors to make commitments to adhere to the prices set by the militia government. Recognized, despite its rejection by a wide sector of traders and companies producing foodstuffs.

As for the Azal district in Sana’a itself, Houthi teams deployed in markets and shops, accompanied by the Director General of the Office of Industry and Trade in the Municipality, Majed Al-Sada, who confirmed that the campaigns translate the plans and directives of the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, describing it as the beginning of a new phase of control and oversight. And that the process of controlling violations is graded by notifications, followed by financial fines, and then closure in the event that previous warnings are not responded to.

The same applies to the Editorial Directorate. Where the elements of the Minister of Industry in the Houthi government raided shops, pharmacies and companies, in implementation of the directives of the militia’s supreme leadership, and the instructions received from the Minister of Industry and Trade, according to what those responsible for this campaign said.

The leaders of the group accused the merchants of greed, and stressed that they would not tolerate anyone in this aspect, and that the field control teams would work to implement the new price list in all markets, centers and shops, and to arrest the violators.

The Houthi militia had taken coup measures against the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, by storming the headquarters of the federation and appointing followers instead of its leadership, in measures that the Yemeni government said confirmed the militia’s progress in its plan to destroy the private sector and eliminate commercial houses in the areas under its control. In favor of companies and their loyal investors.

According to the Yemeni government’s statements, the militias aim to completely control the commercial sector and control the national economy, without any regard for the difficult economic and humanitarian conditions, and to persist in their arbitrary measures against the private sector and commercial companies, without legal justification or court rulings.

The Yemeni Minister of Information called on the international community, the United Nations and its special envoy not to stand by and watch, regarding what he described as an open war launched by the Houthi militia against commercial houses and capital that had withstood and continued its commercial activity despite the difficult circumstances, and to take practical steps to stop the systematic destruction that it is practicing against the sector. which threatens the collapse of economic conditions and exacerbates human suffering.

The Houthi punishment against the Federation of Yemeni Chambers of Commerce and Industry came after a statement issued by the federation on militia actions against the private sector, the closure of companies and commercial establishments in the capital, Sana’a, and areas under militia control, warning of an economic catastrophe, stopping the import of goods, damage to the stock of basic goods and materials, and the displacement of and the migration of national capital in search of commercial and economic security.