Houthi-Salafi Coexistence Agreements: Motives and Future Prospects

Reviewing the agreements reached between the Houthi authorities and the Salafis of the Ma’bar Center in Dhamar, the Salafi representative in the negotiations was Saleh al-Uwairi, though the agreement was signed by the center’s leader, Mohammed al-Imam. [...] 7 Houthi-Salafi Coexistence Agreements: Motives and Future Prospects COEXISTENCE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE HOUTHI AND SALAFI MOVEMENTS During the period from 2011 to 2014, as the authority of state institutions and agencies receded in the wake of the 2011 uprising, the Houthi movement expanded and took control of a number of governorates, starting with Sa’ada and continuing south to other areas of th. [...] These agreements were in line with the provisions of the coexistence document signed with the Salafis in the Ma’bar Center in Dhamar, but the fact that they were neither written down nor signed indicated a lack of commitment that raised the possibility of their being violated or ignored in the future. [...] The Salafis, like other political groups and parties, decided to bow to the demands of the de facto authority until the storm passes.”[17] As for the Salafis in the Ibb governorate, they “believed that the objective of an agreement with the Houthis was to protect their educational centers after the Houthis had become the de facto authorities.”[18] Facing an air and ground war, the Houthi authoriti. [...] There are still some preachers who act like they are in Riyadh, saying the same things that are in the interests of the Saudi regime, which upsets the families of the martyrs and the injured, and this starts a dispute.”[34] Both parties have adhered to the agreement in their public practices.