Houthi Road Taxes Imposed on Travelers at Samara Pass in Ibb Governorate

Travelers have reported the imposition of illegal financial levies by elements affiliated with the Houthi militia at a public rest stop situated on the main road connecting Ibb Governorate and the capital, Sana'a.

The complaints, circulated by activists, indicate that Houthi operatives are demanding monetary payments from every individual entering the rest area in the Naqil Samara region, north of Ibb, generating significant public discontent.

Complainants specified that these elements compel drivers and passengers to remit 1,000 Yemeni Riyals per vehicle, threatening expulsion or forceful removal against anyone who refuses to comply with the collection.

This particular rest stop holds considerable importance for travelers due to the hazardous nature of the Naqil Samara route, an area notorious for frequent traffic accidents that result in numerous casualties annually. Drivers often stop to cool their vehicles and mitigate the risk of breakdowns or potential collisions.

These actions represent yet another instance within a continuous pattern of grievances regarding the levying of unauthorized tolls and taxes across areas under Houthi control, thereby exacerbating financial burdens and compounding the daily suffering of citizens.