Yemen Calls for Mobilisation, Offers Amnesty to Houthi Defectors

Yemen’s internationally recognised government has called for public mobilisation and offered immediate amnesty, subject to legal procedures, to Houthi fighters who defect, as the group makes gains along the country’s western Red Sea coast. Rashad al-Alimi, chair of the Presidential Leadership Council, made the appeal in a recorded speech, urging Yemenis to join government forces through official channels or contribute in other ways. Al-Alimi said the government’s objective was to restore state institutions and sovereignty across Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, which the Houthis seized in 2014. He described the amnesty as effective immediately for fighters who leave the Houthi movement, while noting that any pardon must follow constitutional and legal procedures. The announcement does not establish how many fighters might defect or how the government will process applications. The mobilisation call follows Houthi advances on the western coast. Reports describe recent gains in the area; one account specifically said the group captured Mocha and Mayyun Island. The available accounts do not establish the extent of control in each location.