The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council has launched a series of coordinated measures to combat corruption, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism, aiming to protect public funds and strengthen the state's legal position.

According to Yemen’s official news agency, SABA, the Council’s Chairman, Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, directed authorities to expedite investigations into various cases and urged non-cooperative entities to comply with oversight mechanisms.

The Council emphasized the importance of referring ongoing cases to judicial authorities while tasking security agencies with pursuing suspects within the country and collaborating with Interpol to track suspects abroad.

Judicial Actions and Financial Audits

The Yemeni Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the initiation of over 20 criminal cases involving corruption, money laundering, terror financing, tax evasion, and illegal land seizures. A report submitted by the Attorney General revealed that these cases also include public fund embezzlement, irregularities in energy project contracts, and unlawful oil smuggling.

Reports from the Central Organization for Control and Audit (COCA) highlighted financial and administrative violations across several institutions, including the Central Bank of Yemen and Yemeni embassies abroad, resulting in losses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Notable irregularities include a $285 million fuel supply contract for the electricity sector in 2022 and $180 million in contracts signed by Aden Refineries with Chinese companies. Additionally, a $128 million floating power ship agreement faced criticism for containing terms detrimental to public interest, including unwarranted tax and customs exemptions for the contracted company.

Land Grabs and Consular Revenue Mismanagement

The reports revealed that approximately 477 million square meters of state land in liberated areas have been illegally seized. Furthermore, consular revenue mismanagement was flagged, with $91 million in unauthorized expenditures reported at the Yemeni Consulate in Jeddah and $268,000 in Cairo.

The Presidential Leadership Council instructed specialized teams to evaluate the performance of the General Authority for State Lands and Real Estate following widespread encroachments. It also stressed the need for decisive legal action against those involved in corruption and public fund misappropriation.

International Cooperation and Asset Freezing

The Attorney General disclosed that international requests were received to freeze the assets of individuals and entities linked to money laundering and terror financing, some of which are affiliated with the Houthi militia. Freezing orders were issued in certain cases, while others were declined due to insufficient evidence.

Yemen’s fight against corruption and financial crimes requires steadfast efforts at both national and international levels. The Presidential Leadership Council’s determined approach marks a significant step toward safeguarding the nation’s resources and restoring public trust.