New Levies and Houthi Expansion Reported in Yemen's Ibb Province

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

The sources indicated that tax collection campaigns began in the districts of Al-Nadera and As-Suddah before spreading to Ibb city, the provincial capital. Committees affiliated with the Public Works Office and the Environmental Health Department, accompanied by armed elements, are conducting field campaigns in markets and businesses. These campaigns are levying financial sums under the guise of addressing violations and regulatory requirements.

Traders have reportedly filed repeated complaints to the 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 weak purchasing power due to the ongoing economic crisis in the province.

According to sources, these campaigns intensified following the appointment of a new official for the Public Works Office in the province, who hails from Amran province. The committees have reportedly increased inspection procedures and issued violations against several businesses, which traders view as a method to impose additional fees and tributes, particularly on small business owners. The imposed amounts range from 10,000 to 50,000 Yemeni riyals per establishment, sometimes exceeding 100,000 riyals, depending on the size and location of the business.

In a related development, several foodstuff traders in the districts of Yarim, Al-Nadera, and As-Suddah told "Khaba" news agency that they have faced pressure from Houthi leaders to contribute financially to events organized by the militia. This includes providing bottled water and covering the costs of banners and promotional materials for activities such as the commemoration of the martyrdom of Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, which occurred over 1300 years ago in Kufa, Iraq.

Academics and educators speaking to the agency suggest that the militia's focus on organizing events with sectarian content, coupled with the imposition of financial contributions from the business sector, reflects a strategy to reinforce its ideological narrative within educational and administrative institutions. This occurs while priorities related to improving economic and service conditions are reportedly declining.

Human rights organizations state that Ibb province 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 steps to curb these practices and protect civilians and the private sector from increasing economic pressures.