Yemen demands that the UAE allow Al-Bahsani to travel to Riyadh
In a significant development reflecting the depth of the challenges facing unity within the Yemeni government, the Republic of Yemen has officially requested that the United Arab Emirates allow Major General Faraj Salmeen al-Bahsani, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, to leave its territory and travel immediately to the Saudi capital, Riyadh. This request was made in a statement issued by an official source in the Presidential Office, revealing a near-complete breakdown in communication with al-Bahsani over the past few weeks.
Details of the crisis and the unjustified absence
The presidential source explained that the Leadership Council Secretariat had recorded Al-Bahsani's continued absence from his constitutional duties without providing clear reasons, at a critical time when the state is undertaking intensive efforts to contain a dangerous escalation threatening civil peace in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra. The statement also noted Al-Bahsani's contradictory stances on the "X" platform, where he adopted language encouraging escalation outside the framework of the state, and reneged on previous commitments to attend consultative meetings in Riyadh, sometimes citing a travel ban and at other times simply disappearing from public view.
The context of forming the leadership council and the importance of cohesion
This incident gains significance from the sensitivity of the current phase Yemen has been experiencing since the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022, pursuant to the Gulf Cooperation Council-sponsored declaration on the transfer of power. The council was formed to unify all forces opposed to the Houthi project under a single umbrella, encompassing military and political leaders from various orientations, including the Southern Transitional Council and leaders from Hadramawt and the western coast. Therefore, the absence of any member, or any dissenting voice, threatens the very essence of the consensus upon which the transitional phase was built.
The strategic importance of Hadramawt and the Saudi role
These developments come amidst political and popular mobilization in Hadramawt Governorate, which holds significant economic and geographical importance in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, as leader of the Arab Coalition, is actively working to bridge the divides and prevent any descent into chaos in the liberated governorates. The participation of all members of the Presidential Council in the ongoing consultations in Riyadh is crucial to ensuring the success of these efforts and unifying political and military decision-making to address the economic and humanitarian challenges, as well as to counter Houthi intransigence.
A call to prioritize the national interest
The presidential source concluded its statement by emphasizing that membership in the Leadership Council is a constitutional responsibility that cannot be suspended or obstructed based on individual stances. The Presidency called on the UAE to facilitate Al-Bahsani's travel to participate in the Kingdom-sponsored efforts, affirming its commitment to addressing disputes through institutional channels and moving forward in consolidating the state's authority and ending the humanitarian suffering caused by the Houthi militias, which are supported by the Iranian regime.
