New Levies and Houthi Expansion Reported in Ibb Province

Local and human rights sources in Ibb Governorate, central Yemen, report an escalation in levies imposed on traders and business owners across several districts. Accusations suggest the Houthi militia is intensifying financial extortion, linking it to the funding of sectarian events.

The sources indicated that tax collection campaigns began in the Al-Nadara and As-Suddah districts before extending to Ibb city, the governorate's center. Committees affiliated with the Public Works Office and the Environmental Health Department, accompanied by armed elements, are conducting field operations in markets and businesses. These operations aim to extract funds under the guise of addressing violations and regulatory requirements.

Traders have reportedly lodged repeated complaints with local authorities under Houthi control, protesting what they describe as arbitrary practices. They emphasize that the new levies exacerbate their financial burdens amid a downturn in commercial activity and weakened purchasing power due to the ongoing economic crisis in the governorate.

According to sources, these campaigns intensified following the appointment of a new official for the Public Works Office in the governorate, who hails from Amran Governorate. The committees have reportedly increased inspection measures and issued citations against several businesses, which traders perceive as a method to impose additional fees and tributes, particularly on small enterprises. The amounts imposed range from 10,000 to 50,000 Yemeni Riyals per establishment, with some cases exceeding 100,000 Riyals, depending on the scale and location of the business.

In a related development, several foodstuff traders from the Yarim, Al-Nadara, and As-Suddah districts told "Khaba" agency that they have faced pressure from Houthi leaders to contribute to funding militia-organized events. This includes providing bottled water and covering the costs of banners and promotional materials for activities, notably an event commemorating the martyrdom of Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, which occurred over 1300 years ago.

Academics and educators speaking to the agency suggest that the militia's focus on organizing events with sectarian themes, coupled with financial demands on the commercial sector, reflects a strategy to bolster its ideological discourse within educational and administrative institutions. This occurs while priorities related to improving economic and service conditions are being neglected.

Human rights organizations state that Ibb Governorate has seen a rise in citizen complaints in recent years regarding levies, property seizures, and abuses linked to the exploitation of influence. These organizations are calling on the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the international community to take measures to curb these practices and protect civilians and the private sector from increasing economic pressures.