# Supreme Political Council

The Supreme Political Council (SPC; Arabic: المجلس السياسي الأعلى al-Majlis as-Siyāsiyy al-ʾAʿlā) is an extraconstitutional collective head of state and executive established in 2016 in Sanaa by the Houthi movement and the pro-Houthi faction of the General People's Congress (GPC) to rule Yemen opposed to the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) in Aden. The SPC carries out the functions of head of state in Yemen, appointing the country's cabinet and managing the Yemen's state affairs in a bid to fill in political vacuum during the Yemeni Civil War. The Council aims to outline a basis for running the country and managing state affairs on the basis of the constitution. Since 2018 the SPC has been headed by Mahdi al-Mashat as Chairman of the Council.
The SPC was formed on 28 July 2016 with an initial ten members and was headed by Saleh Ali al-Sammad as president and Qassem Labozah as vice-president. The members were sworn in on 14 August 2016, and the next day the Supreme Revolutionary Committee (SRC) handed power to the Supreme Political Council. After al-Sammad was killed in a drone strike on 19 April 2018, chairmanship of the SPC passed to Mahdi al-Mashat. Under the SPC is subordinate the Cabinet of Yemen, which it appoints and supervises government officials who oversee relevant ministries; since 2016 two governments have been established under the council. In 2016 the SPC appointed former Aden governor Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour to form a ministry known as the National Salvation Government (NSG). In September 2023 the NSG was dismissed and replaced by a caretaker administration which continued to be headed by Habtour. In August 2024 a Presidential resolution appointed Ahmad al-Rahawi as the head of a new ministry known as the 'Government of Change and Construction' (GCC). Eight days later the House of Representatives (in Sanaa) approved the cabinet and called for a 36-point 'general program'.
The SPC remains internationally unrecognized compared to the PLC in Aden and is acknowledged only by Iran, with the Houthis placing an ambassador to Iran in August 2019. The formation of the SPC has been condemned by the International Community; with the United Nations (UN) officially describing the act as "a clear violation of the Yemeni constitution" and denounced the council for sabotaging the Yemeni peace process.

## Background

In the wake of president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and prime minister Khaled Bahah resignations over Houthi rebels takeover of presidential palace in January 2015, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi reportedly proposed a six-member "transitional presidential council" which would have equal representation from north and south, although this proposal was rejected by the Southern Movement. Nevertheless, on 1 February, the Houthis gave an ultimatum to Yemen's political factions warning that if they did not reach a solution to the current political crisis, then the Houthi "revolutionary leadership" would assume formal authority over the state. According to Reuters, political factions have agreed to form an interim presidential council to manage the country for up to one year. Former South Yemen president Ali Nasser Mohammed was originally being considered as a prospective interim leader, but Mohammed later declined the post.
On 6 February 2015, the Houthis formally assumed over authority in Sanaa, declaring the dissolution of House of Representatives and announced that a "presidential council" would be formed to lead Yemen for two years, while a "revolutionary committee" would be put in charge of forming a new, 551-member national council. This governance plan was later affirmed by Houthi Ansarullah politburo leader Saleh Ali al-Sammad as he said that national council would choose a five-member presidential council to govern the country.

## Current members

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the following members of the SPC:
| Sr. No. | Status | Name |
| 1 | Chairman | Mahdi al-Mashat |
| 2 | Vice Chairman | Sadeq Amin Abu Rass |
| 3 | Prime Minister | Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi |
| 4 | Member | Muhammad Ali al-Houthi |
| 5 | Member | Jaber Abdullah Ghaleb Al-Wahbani |
| 6 | Member | Mubarak Saleh Al-Mishn al-Zaidi |
| 7 | Member | Sultan Ahmed Abd Rabbo al-Samei |
| 8 | Member | Khaled Mohammed Saeed al-Dini |
| 9 | Member | Salih Mabkhout al-Nuaimi |

## Governments
### Government of Change and Construction (2024–present)

On 10 August 2024, Ahmed al-Rahawi was appointed as Prime Minister of Yemen and tasked with forming a ministry known as the 'Government of Change and Construction' by the President of the Supreme Political Council Mahdi al-Mashat. Two days later the composition of the new government was announced in a presidential resolution. On August 18, 2024 the House of Representatives (San'aa) gave confidence to the government and called on it to follow a 36-point 'general program' prepared by a house of representatives special committee. The government and SPC continues to be internationally unrecognised in comparison with the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).
Government of Change and Construction :
| Portfolio (ministries) | Minister | Term Start | Term End |
| Prime Minister of Yemen | Ahmed al-Rahawi | 10 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| First Deputy Prime Minister | Allama Muhammad Ahmed Ahmed Muftah | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Defence and Security Affairs | Lt-General Jalal Ali Ali Al-Rowaishan | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Administration, Local and Rural Development | Mohamed Hassan Ismail Al-Madani | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Defense | Maj-General Mohamed al-Atifi | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Ministry of Interior | Maj-General Abdul Karim Amir al-Din al-Houthi | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Justice and Human Rights | Judge Mujahid Ahmed Abdullah Ali | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Development | Khaled Hussein Saleh Al-Hawali | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Transport and Public Works | Maj-General Mohamed Ayyash Mohamed Qahim | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Finance | Abdul-Jabbar Ahmed Mohammed Mohammed | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Economy, Industry and Investment | Moeen Hashem Ahmed Al-Mahagri | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources | Radwan Ali Ali Al-Rubai | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Education and Scientific Research | Hassan Abdullah Yahya Al-Saadi | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants | Jamal Ahmed Ali Amer | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Oil and Minerals | Abdullah Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al-Amir | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Electricity, Energy and Water | Ali Saif Mohamed Hassan | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Health and Environment | Ali Abdul Karim Ali Shaiban | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | Ali Qasim Hussein Al Yafei | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Social Affairs and Labour | Samir Mohamed Ahmed Bajaala | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Information | Hashem Ahmed Abdulrahman Sharafuddin | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Youth and Sports | Mohamed Ali Ahmed Al-Mawlid | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |
| Minister of Communications and Information Technology | Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Al-Mahdi | 12 August 2024 | Incumbent |

### National Salvation Government (2016–2023)

On 2 October 2016, Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour was appointed as prime minister by the Houthis. On 4 October, he formed his cabinet. The cabinet is composed of members of the Southern Movement. However, the cabinet is not internationally recognized.
On 28 November 2016, a new cabinet was formed. It is only composed by members of pro-Saleh GPC and the Ansarullah Movement.
However, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said the move was "a new and unnecessary obstacle. Yemen is at a critical juncture. The actions recently taken by Ansarullah and the General People's Congress will only complicate the search for a peaceful solution. The parties must hold Yemen’s national interests above narrow partisan ambitions and take immediate steps to end political divisions and address the country’s security, humanitarian and economic challenges." He further claimed that such an action could harm peace talks.
On 27 October 2020, the Minister of Youth and Sport Hassan Mohammed Zaid was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the capital Sanaa.
On 27 September 2023 the National Salvation Government was dismissed and replaced by a caretaker government, Habtour continued as caretaker prime minister before being elevated to the SPC in 2024.
National Salvation Government :
| Portfolio (ministries) | Minister | Term Start | Term End |
| Prime Minister of Yemen | Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour | 4 October 2016 | 10 August 2024 |
| Deputy Prime Minister for the Affairs of the Security | Jalal al-Rowaishan | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Deputy Prime Minister for the Affairs of the Service | Mahmoud Abdel Kader al-Jounaïd | 1 January 2018 | 27 September 2023 |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs | Hussein Abdullah Mkabuli | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Interior | Abdulhakim Ahmed al-Mawri | 13 December 2017 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Planning and International Cooperation | Abdulaziz Al-Kumaim | July 2017 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Information | Dhaifallah Qasim Saleh al-Shami | 10 November 2018 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Hisham Sharaf Abdullah | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of State for National Dialogue Outcomes' Affairs and National Reconciliation | Ahmed Saleh al-Ganie | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Youth and Sport | Hassan Mohammed Zaid | 28 November 2016 | 27 October 2020 |
| Minister of Legal Affairs | Abdulrahman Ahmed al-Mukhtar | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Education | Yahia Badreddin al-Houthi | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Civil Service and Insurance | Talal Aklan | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and the Shura Council | Ali Abdullah Abu Hulaykah | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Defense | Mohamed al-Atifi | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Industry and Trade | Abdu Mohammed Bishr | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister for Fisheries | Mohammad Mohammad al-Zubayri | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Justice | Ahmed Abdullah Akabat | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research | Hussein Ali Hazeb | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Social Affairs and Labour | Faiqah al-Sayed Ba'alawy | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Tourism | Nasser Mahfouz Bagazkoz | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Public Works and Highways | Ghalib Abdullah Mutlaq | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Water and Environment | Nabil Abdullah al-Wazair | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Petroleum and Minerals | Ahmed Abdullah Naji Dars | 1 January 2018 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Electricity and Energy | Lutf Ali al-Jermouzi | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Local Administration | Ali Bin Ali Al-Kays | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Religious Endowments and Guidance | Sharaf Ali al-Kulaisi | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Expatriate Affairs | Mohammed Saeed al-Mashjari | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Finance | Saleh Ahmed Shaaban | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Communications and Information Technology | Musfer Abdullah Saleh Al-Numeir | 16 December 2017 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation | Ghazi Ahmed Mohsen | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Technical Education and Vocational | Mohsen Ali al-Nakib | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Culture | Abdullah Ahmad al-Kibsy | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Transport | Zakaria Yahya al-Shami | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister of Human Rights | Alia Faisal Abdullatif al-Shaba | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister(s) of State | Fares Mana'a | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister(s) of State | Nabih Mohsen Abu Nashtan | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister(s) of State | Radhiyah Mohammad Abdullah | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister(s) of State | Aubayd Salem bin Dhabia | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister(s) of State | Hamid Awadh al-Mizjaji | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |
| Minister(s) of State | Abdulaziz Ahmed al-Bakir | 28 November 2016 | 27 September 2023 |

## Diplomatic relations with other states

The National Salvation government has currently only diplomatic relations with Iran. Relations with Syria existed between 2015 and 2023. Additionally, the government has diplomatic contacts with Abkhazia, North Korea and Russia. In 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that the government would seek contacts with China, Iran and Russia. In 2016, a National Salvation government official had invited several North Korean diplomats to Damascus. The same year, a delegation of the National Salvation government visited Russia and met the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2017, foreign minister Hisham Sharaf Abdullah met with the chargés d’affaires of the Russian and the Syrian Embassy in Sanaa. In August 2019, the National Salvation government appointed an Ambassador to Tehran. In early 2020, the Saba News Agency reported that Hisham Sharaf Abdullah called China a "friendly government". In October 2020, Iran appointed an Ambassador to Sanaa. Two months later, the United States sanctioned the Iranian Ambassador to Sanaa. In August 2020, the National Salvation government appointed an Ambassador to Damascus. In March 2021, the National Salvation government appointed Ambassador in Damascus met with the Abkhaz Ambassador to Syria. In October 2023, Syria expelled representatives of the National Salvation government from the Yemeni embassy in Damascus.
The President, the Parliament Speaker and the Foreign Minister of the National Salvation government have sent numerous diplomatic notes to a wide range of countries such as Algeria, Bahamas, Comoros, Kiribati, Malawi, Malta, Mongolia, Montenegro, Slovenia, South Sudan, Venezuela and Uzbekistan