The shadow government ruling Yemen from the Houthi stronghold

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the heart of Yemen's civil war, an extraconstitutional body governs large swathes of territory. While the international community recognizes the leadership in Aden, the Houthi-led Supreme Political Council operates as a rival state, appointing cabinets and managing ministries to fill a fractured political vacuum.

Established in 2016 in Sanaa, the Supreme Political Council (SPC) serves as the executive authority for areas controlled by the Houthi rebels and their allies in the General People's Congress (GPC). The UN officially views the council as a "clear violation of the Yemeni constitution" and a sabotage of the national peace process. Despite this lack of international recognition, the SPC functions as a de facto head of state, overseeing the country's cabinet and managing state affairs through various iterations of government. The council's leadership has shifted through violence and political transition. Originally headed by Saleh Ali al-Sammad, the chairmanship passed to Mahdi al-Mashat in 2018 following a drone strike that killed al-Sammad. Under its authority, the SPC has established multiple administrations, including the National Salvation Government (2016–2023) and the more recent Government of Change and Construction (2024–present).

These bodies have been tasked with implementing specific programs, such as a 36-point general program approved by the Houthi-aligned House of Representatives. Diplomatically, the SPC exists in a state of isolation from the West, maintaining formal relations primarily with Iran. However, it has cultivated a network of contacts with Russia, North Korea, Abkhazia, and Syria. While the international community sides with the Presidential Leadership Council in Aden, the SPC's existence highlights the deep, entrenched division of Yemen into two competing political realities, each claiming the legitimacy of the state.

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