Houthi militia impose new taxes on Yemenis

The Houthi group in Yemen has approved amendments to a set of tax and customs laws. These amendments grant their coup-led council’s head the authority to impose new taxes or increase existing ones.

This move is poised to open the door for a new wave of levies on Yemenis at a time when approximately three-quarters of them are already in need of some form of assistance.

According to political sources and activists in Sanaa, members of the so-called Houthi parliament, numbering no more than 30 individuals, voted on a proposal presented by Rashid Abu Lahoum, the finance minister in the unrecognized coup government.

The proposal grants the head of the governing council in Houthi-controlled regions the authority to amend laws and impose or modify tax and customs duties based on the minister’s proposal.

This is permitted without any interference from the coup government or the so-called Houthi parliament. The Yemeni constitution unequivocally prohibits the imposition of any tax duties without legislation.

Sources have indicated that, as a result of the amendments introduced to tax, customs, and public finance laws, Houthi-controlled areas are poised to witness additional taxes and levies.

These would be in addition to the illicit levies and fees already imposed at customs ports established between governorates, as well as cleanliness fees, urban improvement charges, and local council levies, extending to sectarian event taxes.

Furthermore, the Houthis instructed the finance committee to continue discussing and approving these amendments. Politicians and activists believe that these amendments will pave the way for overwhelming the population in Houthi-run areas with levies and taxes.