Divergence Between the National Resistance and Presidential Council: Causes & Implications

Introduction
From time to time, disagreements flare up among members of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) due to various reasons, chief among them being differences in motivations and aspirations. Most members are tied to ideological, political or regional backgrounds that reflect diverging visions and loyalties. Moreover, the influence of regional powers — deeply involved in the Yemeni scene — plays a significant role in shaping the council’s dynamics. These factors undermine cohesion within the council and negatively impact the political and economic process, which has been steadily deteriorating since the council came to power.

Recently, tensions emerged between the “Political Bureau” of the “National Resistance,” led by Brigadier General Tareq Saleh, a member of the PLC, and the council itself, headed by Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. This tension culminated in a statement issued on June 23 by the bureau’s general secretariat. The statement warned against what it called “selective invitations to political entities during meetings discussing public issues,” arguing that such practices fail to offer real solutions and weaken the institutional structure of the state. It also called for “an end to discriminatory treatment of national partners and the avoidance of exclusionary policies that harm the higher national interest.”

The statement generally protests the exclusion of the Political Bureau from official state meetings. It represents the first public confrontation between Brigadier General Tareq Saleh and PLC Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. Until now, both figures had managed to keep their disputes out of the media spotlight. However, this time, the situation appears to have escalated beyond control, with both sides’ media arms launching attacks on one another.

This policy brief examines the specific causes behind this latest dispute, the broader causes of discord within the PLC and the implications for the political process in Yemen.

1. Causes of the Divergence

The growing rift between the Political Bureau of the National Resistance and the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) stems from a variety of underlying factors. These causes can be analyzed across several key dimensions:

1. Power Struggle and Conflicting Interests

At the core of this divergence lies a competition over influence, particularly regarding the distribution of key positions and control over resources. Each party seeks to strengthen its grip and secure its rightful share within the state’s structure, believing any compromise undermines the foundational agreements of the PLC. President al-Alimi represents certain political balances and often seeks to retain control over decision-making, prompting calls for rotating the presidency. Meanwhile, Tareq Saleh is actively building his own political and development base in Taiz and Hodeidah. His high-impact projects — such as airport renovations, road construction and a major water initiative in Taiz — sometimes overshadow the council’s own efforts, granting him greater visibility and influence, which has caused concern within the Council.

1. Regional Alignments

The Arab Coalition — primarily Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — plays a crucial role in this dynamic. Al-Alimi aligns more closely with Saudi policy and reflects its priorities in Yemen, while Saleh is viewed as more friendly with the UAE and is positioning himself as an influential independent actor, sometimes operating as if he was separate from the council. These differing regional alliances create constant friction, especially when major decisions are on the table or when implementing agreements on the ground. Diverging priorities between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi also periodically affect the internal dynamics of the Presidential Leadership Council.

1. Institutional Weakness and Lack of Transparency

The council suffers from an absence of clear, institutional mechanisms for resolving disputes and allocating authority in a legal, systematic way. It has also failed to release its internal bylaws, which should ideally be shared with the public or at least with oversight bodies, like the parliament. Instead, decisions often rely on informal understandings and backdoor deals, particularly regarding appointments. Delays in the appointment of deputy ministers and provincial officials linked to the Political Bureau are seen as part of the current friction. These shortcomings leave the council vulnerable to instability whenever disagreements arise. The Political Bureau’s recent public call to Al-Alimi to respect the law and stop unilateral decision-making highlights the council’s governance gaps and the absence of institutional safeguards.

1. Living Conditions and Security Crises

Worsening living conditions and security issues in government-held areas — ranging from failing services to economic collapse — further fuel internal rifts and expose the council’s underperformance. These failures contribute to public frustration and create fertile ground for internal blame games, with each party seeking to shift responsibility or exploit the situation to bolster its own standing, rather than working collectively to resolve the crises.

Conclusion
The current divergence within the Presidential Leadership Council is not a passing dispute or mere competition over positions; it reflects a deeper instability in the council’s political structure. It underscores that the issue goes beyond the redistribution of roles — it is fundamentally about the nature of the council itself and the mechanisms that govern its functioning.

Should the PLC fail to unify and address its internal divisions through clear and institutional frameworks, the process of restoring the state will be delayed, pushing Yemen further into fragmentation and chaos. Such a trajectory would have disastrous consequences for the future of the council and for Yemen’s future as a unified and stable state. These negative outcomes call for genuine efforts to overcome these divisions and move toward institutional cohesion.