Southern consultations begin in Riyadh; Al-Mahrami praises Saudi support

The Southern Consultative Meeting, aimed at addressing outstanding issues in southern Yemen, particularly those related to Hadramawt, and unifying the visions of the various southern factions, commenced today, Sunday, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. This political initiative comes at a sensitive juncture in the Yemeni crisis, amidst intensive regional and international efforts to advance the peace process and end the years-long conflict.

Praise for the pivotal Saudi role

In press statements coinciding with the start of the consultations, Abu Zara'a al-Mahrami, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and commander of the Giants Brigades, affirmed that the atmosphere was extremely positive. Al-Mahrami stated, "Since the arrival of the dialogue participants in Riyadh, we have witnessed positive and sincere support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," noting that this support is not new but rather an extension of the Kingdom's steadfast positions toward Yemen.

Al-Mahrami added that the Yemeni leadership received clear assurances of continued support for the Southern Forces, which play a pivotal role in maintaining security and combating terrorism, in addition to their steadfastness on the military fronts. He pointed out that Saudi economic support is a fundamental pillar for stabilizing the situation, emphasizing that this cooperation embodies the depth of the strategic partnership between the South and the Kingdom.

The political path and the state option

The member of the Presidential Leadership Council stressed that dialogue and the political path are the best and only option to achieve legitimate aspirations, including the restoration of the state of South Yemen, explaining that the southern dialogue sponsored by Riyadh is working seriously to formulate these aspirations and turn them into a tangible reality, in a way that guarantees the rights of all southern components without exclusion.

General context and importance of consultations

These consultations are of exceptional importance given the complexities of the Yemeni landscape, where Saudi Arabia, as leader of the Arab Coalition, seeks to bridge the gap between the various Yemeni factions opposed to the Houthis. This step complements the efforts of the Riyadh Agreement and previous Riyadh consultations that led to the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022, with the aim of unifying the internal front.

The Hadramawt file is one of the most prominent files on the table, given the geopolitical and economic importance of the governorate, and the need to find a consensual formula that guarantees its stability and prevents any tensions that may affect the course of the fateful battle or the negotiations for a final solution.

Regional and international impact

Observers believe that the success of these consultations will have a positive impact on regional security, particularly in securing international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, areas where southern forces are actively present. Furthermore, unifying the southern ranks will strengthen the legitimate government's position in any future UN-sponsored peace negotiations, thus thwarting any attempts to exploit internal divisions to prolong the war.

Saudi sponsorship of these dialogues reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment not only to military and economic support, but also to political and diplomatic support to ensure a safe and stable Yemen, as Al-Mahrami pointed out when he emphasized that the dialogue process preserves security and stability in the entire region.