The Central Bank of Yemen in the interim capital Aden has warned against circulating counterfeit 50-rial coins that the Houthi militia announced issuing through the Central Bank branch under their control in Sana'a.

In a statement, the bank described this move as "another destructive act in the Houthi militia's economic war against the Yemeni people," calling it an illegal plundering of national resources without any legal or monetary cover.

The bank renewed its warning to citizens, banks, and businesses in Houthi-controlled areas against dealing with any counterfeit currency - whether old or new - to avoid penalties associated with transactions with an illegitimate entity classified on global terrorism lists.

It emphasized that this Houthi escalation blatantly violates the July 23, 2024 declaration by the UN envoy to Yemen under international sponsorship, which the Yemeni government and Central Bank fully committed to, while the militia violated it from day one.

The Central Bank called on regional and international partners to condemn this action and fulfill their responsibilities, reaffirming its commitment to constitutional duties to protect the national economy and citizens' savings through all legal means.

It urged banks and businessmen in Houthi areas to take measures to protect their capital and investments from financial collapse risks and banking sector violations by the militia.

This comes after the Houthi-controlled Central Bank in Sana'a announced on Saturday the issuance of new 50-rial coins, claiming they were needed to address "damaged currency problems." This follows their failed attempts over years to print paper currency in several countries that refuse to deal with them and only recognize the internationally-legitimized government.