Yemen’s central bank orders banks to freeze assets of 135 Houthi-linked individuals, entities
- Directive also bans financial dealings with those on terrorism lists, including 5 oil tankers
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- Directive also bans financial dealings with those on terrorism lists, including 5 oil tankers
By Aziz Ahmadi and Tarek Chouiref
ISTANBUL (AA) - Yemen’s central bank ordered banks and exchange companies Tuesday to freeze the accounts and assets of 135 Houthi-linked individuals, entities and vessels placed on terrorism lists, the government-run SABA news agency reported.
The Aden-based bank issued the directive under an Oct. 19 order by the country’s public prosecutor to designate those listed and freeze their assets over their alleged ties to the Houthi group.
The measures also ban financial and commercial dealings with those listed, including opening new bank accounts or carrying out transactions on their behalf.
Financial institutions were instructed to identify and report the accounts, assets and money transfers of those listed to the country’s financial intelligence and anti-money laundering authorities.
According to SABA, the list includes Houthi political, military and security officials, businessmen, a company and five oil tankers identified by Yemeni authorities as smuggling vessels.
The agency did not disclose the names of those listed.
On Oct. 11, Yemen’s internationally recognized government approved a draft law designating the Houthis a “terrorist organization” and criminalizing the group’s activities and financing.
The government also called for completing the legal and constitutional procedures needed to enact the legislation.
The decision came amid escalating hostilities between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition.
Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north.