Yemen's President Al-Alimi Urges Mobilisation, Offers Amnesty to Houthi Defectors

Rashid al-Alimi, the president of Yemen's internationally recognised government, has called on Yemenis to mobilise and enlist in the country's armed forces, in a public appeal issued from his base in Riyadh.

In the same address, al-Alimi extended an offer of a general amnesty to fighters and affiliates of the Houthi movement who choose to leave the group. The amnesty is set to take effect from September 26.

The dual announcement pairs a call for wider military participation with an inducement for defections from the Houthis, the Iran-aligned movement that has controlled large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, for years.

Al-Alimi heads the Saudi-backed government, which operates from Riyadh rather than from Yemeni territory. His appeal comes amid a protracted conflict that has divided the country and drawn in regional powers.

The offer of amnesty marks a fresh attempt to weaken Houthi ranks by encouraging exits, while the mobilisation call signals the government's push to bolster its forces. No further details on the terms of the amnesty or the scope of the mobilisation were provided.