Yemen’s Houthi group on Saturday denied reports that it planned to impose fees on commercial vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, insisting that passage through the strategic waterway remains free of charge.
In a press statement, the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said no decision had been made or was under consideration to introduce transit fees. The center said its Safe Passage service was voluntary and free, offering vessels not targeted by the group’s declared maritime embargo advance confirmation that they could navigate safely through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
“Any individual or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait does not represent the center,” the HOCC said. It also warned shipping companies against paying money or providing information to unauthorized individuals or entities claiming to act on its behalf, and stressed that vessels outside its embargo could transit without registration.
The statement comes as concerns over maritime security in the region have intensified following the Houthis’ announcement on July 20 of a ban on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea, which the group described as a response to an alleged Saudi blockade on areas under its control in Yemen. The denial appears aimed at reassuring insurers and shippers while the group maintains pressure on Saudi-linked vessels.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait acts as a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Gulf of Aden to the southern end of the Red Sea, forming an indispensable artery for global energy shipments and international trade moving to and from the Suez Canal. Any disruption there has outsized consequences for world oil and container shipping, which is one reason the Houthi campaign has drawn repeated international responses.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. The Houthi maritime campaign has continued through successive rounds of diplomacy, and on July 30 Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries announced a multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at protecting shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Analysts say the fee reports likely stemmed from the HOCC’s registration system, which some shipping companies have read as a precursor to monetizing the waterway. By publicly rejecting any charge, the Houthis appear to be trying to stabilize their image with the international shipping industry while preserving their leverage over Saudi-linked traffic.
Sources: Xinhua, Al Jazeera
Author: Middle East Desk
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