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

Local and rights sources in Yemen's Ibb Governorate report an escalation of levies imposed on merchants and business owners across several districts. These actions are attributed to the Houthi militia, which is accused of expanding financial extortion tactics and linking them to the funding of religiously-oriented events.

Sources indicate that the tax collection campaigns commenced in the districts of Al-Nadirah and As-Sudah before spreading to Ibb city, the governorate's capital. Committees affiliated with the Public Works Office and the Environmental Health Department, accompanied by armed elements, are conducting field operations in markets and commercial establishments. These operations aim to collect funds under the pretext of regulatory violations and non-compliance with standards.

Merchants have reportedly filed 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 during a period of declining commercial activity and weak purchasing power due to the ongoing economic crisis.

The intensified levy campaigns reportedly intensified following the appointment of a new official for the Public Works Office in the governorate, who hails from Amran Governorate. Committees have increased inspection procedures and issued violations against numerous businesses, which merchants perceive 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, with some cases exceeding 100,000 riyals, depending on the business's scale and location.

In a related development, several foodstuff merchants from the Yareem, Al-Nadirah, and As-Sudah districts have reported facing pressure from Houthi leaders to contribute to funding militia-organized events. This includes providing bottled water and covering the expenses for banners and promotional materials for activities such as commemorating the martyrdom of Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, an event that occurred over 1300 years ago in Kufa, Iraq.

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

Human rights organizations state that Ibb Governorate has witnessed a rise in citizen complaints regarding levies, property confiscation, and abuses linked to the exploitation of influence in recent years. These organizations are urging 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.