With full Houthi takeover of Yemen, civil war looms

(The Christian Science Monitor) Yemen’s Houthi rebels have declared political control over the fragile country, disbanding parliament and mapping out a transition that they claim will usher in an era of greater stability. But unless they secure political support at home and abroad, their experiment could prove short-lived and risks pushing the country into civil war.

“The way they did it, alienated everyone,” said Charles Schmitz, a geographer who focuses on Yemen at Towson University in Maryland. “The political leadership of the Houthi movement wants to dominate the country and they don’t want to play by the rules. The rule of law is lost on them.’

On Friday the Zaidi Shi‘ite rebels dissolved parliament and announced the creation of a presidential council that will act as an interim government for two years. Yemen has lacked a functioning government since January 22, when President Abd-Rabbu Mansour and his cabinet resigned following a sharp standoff with Houthi fighters. Hadi remains incommunicado and under Houthi house arrest.