Yemen demands that the UAE allow Al-Bahsani to leave for Riyadh
In a notable development in the Yemeni political scene, the Republic of Yemen officially requested on Saturday that the United Arab Emirates allow Major General Faraj Salmeen Al-Bahsani, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, to leave its territory and head to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to end the state of stagnation and ambiguity surrounding his recent political position.
Details of the presidential statement and the communication blackout
A senior official in the Yemeni Presidential Office explained that the Presidential Leadership Council Secretariat had observed a near-complete breakdown in communication with Major General Al-Bahsani over the past few weeks. The official noted the member's absence from his constitutional duties without providing clear reasons, despite repeated attempts to contact him, at a sensitive time when the state is exerting intensive efforts to contain the escalation in the Hadramawt and Al-Mahra governorates and protect civil peace.
The statement revealed inconsistencies in Al-Bahsani's positions, as his tweets on the X platform showed him adopting language that encouraged escalation outside the framework of the state. He also displayed contradictions regarding Saudi Arabia's invitation to come to Riyadh for consultations; after initially agreeing in mid-December, he failed to attend, claiming he was prevented from boarding the plane. He then returned to endorse the proposed Saudi steps before disappearing and becoming completely unreachable.
The context of forming the leadership council and the importance of unity
This tension comes at a time when the legitimate government is seeking to strengthen the cohesion of the Presidential Leadership Council, which was formed in April 2022 following the Riyadh Declaration on the transfer of power, with the aim of unifying the front against the Houthi militias. Major General Faraj al-Bahsani, who previously served as governor of Hadramawt and commander of the Second Military Region, is a key figure in the council's political and military balance, given the strategic, economic, and geographic importance of Hadramawt Governorate on the Yemeni map.
The Saudi role and the repercussions of the crisis
The invitation extended to Al-Bahsani to travel to Riyadh is of paramount importance, as Saudi Arabia is leading intensive diplomatic and political efforts to bridge the divide between the various Yemeni factions and ensure the smooth functioning of state institutions. Observers fear that the continuation of these disputes or unilateral stances could negatively impact stability in the eastern governorates (Hadramawt and Al-Mahra), areas that have remained relatively untouched by the direct conflict and possess significant geopolitical importance.
A call to uphold constitutional responsibility
The presidential source concluded by emphasizing that membership in the Leadership Council is a constitutional and national responsibility that cannot be obstructed or held hostage to individual interests. The source called on the Emirati side to facilitate Al-Bahsani's travel to Riyadh to participate in the Kingdom-sponsored efforts to address the situation, affirming that the state is committed to consolidating the authority of its institutions and preventing any unilateral actions that impede the battle to restore the state and end the humanitarian suffering caused by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias.
