Yemen's President, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, has sacked his Vice President, Ali Mohsen al Ahmar, and delegated his powers to a Presidential Council, the Yemeni Minister of Information announced on Thursday (April 7th).
This Presidential Council will assume the functions of the president and his deputy, said a statement issued on behalf of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
The Council will exercise political, military and security functions for the Yemeni government during a "transitional period".
The statement said the move is part of a power transfer initiative launched in 2011 by the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) following anti-government protests and political upheaval in the country. .
"Irreversible"
"With this declaration, a Presidential Council will be established to complete the implementation of the tasks (outstanding) during the transition period. I irreversibly delegate to the Presidential Council my full powers, in accordance with the Constitution, the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism," the statement said.
Seven years of conflict have divided Yemen between an internationally recognized government, led by Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and supported by Saudi Arabia, based in the city of Aden, and one established by the Shiite Houthi movement, supported by Iran, in the capital Sanaa.
The Presidential Council, made up of a president and seven vice-presidents, will be led by Rachad al Alimi, a security official who served as interior minister under Ali Abdallah Saleh's former presidency.
Rachad al Alimi, who was an adviser to Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, enjoys the support of Saudi Arabia.
It also maintains close relations with the main political formation, the Islamist party Islah.
With Reuters
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