The UN-recognised government of Yemen has shaken up its political and military leadership in an attempt to regain territory lost to the Houthis in September and lift the four-week siege of Taiz , the country’s third largest city.

A counteroffensive launched on 5 October and aimed at liberating the entire country from Houthi control has failed amid fighting that has left thousands dead on both sides. The air superiority of the government’s ally Saudi Arabia – which has had to fend off near-daily Houthi attacks on its airports and military bases – has not translated into progress on the ground.

Reuters reported on Monday that Houthi forces were only about 37 miles (60km) from Aden, the nominal seat of the UN-recognised government.

A burst of government dismissals and appointments reflects military reverses and possibly a perceived need to be more sensitive to the demands of southern Yemenis.

Between 1967 and 1990, the country was divided in two, and there is a strong movement built around the banned…