Aden, Yemen – Prominent southern political analyst Hani Mas’hour sharply criticized the recent speech by the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, delivered on Saturday evening, January 10, 2026, describing his use of certain sovereign terms as a “blatant political and legal transgression.”
“Legitimacy is not just a language.”
In an analytical reading of the speech, Mashhour asserted that Al-Alimi’s use of phrases like “as President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces” could not be considered a “slip of the tongue.” Rather, it was an attempt to reproduce a one-man presidential system and a violation of the legal texts that brought about the current transitional phase.
The main points of criticism raised by Mashhour:
Refuting the constitutional status: Mashhour explained that the position of “Presidency of the Republic” has been effectively suspended since the transfer of power in April 2022. What was established is a “Presidential Leadership Council” with a collective entity, not an individual presidency.
The Supreme Command of the Armed Forces indicated that the title of Supreme Commander was granted to the Council as a “comprehensive body,” not to its chairman personally, emphasizing that invoking it in the individual sense circumvents the Council’s consensual structure.
Illusions of individual power: Mashhour considered this behavior to reflect “confusion in understanding the nature of the current phase.” He viewed it as an attempt to circumvent consensus, warning that Yemen cannot afford to reproduce models of governance that have historically proven their failure and paid the price in wars and coups.
Legitimacy comes from commitment, not terminology.
Mashhour concluded his remarks by clearly defining the legitimacy of the current phase, stating, “Al-Alimi is the head of a council, not the head of state.” He argued that exceeding this linguistic boundary opens a dangerous political door, potentially leading to foreign interference or individual delusions that the country can no longer tolerate.
In conclusion, Mashhour’s statements reflect a state of political apprehension regarding any attempts to change the power-sharing structure within the Presidential Leadership Council, which is what…
