17 Yemeni parties praise Saudi Arabia's stance on the southern issue
In a remarkable political development reflecting the unification of the Yemeni ranks under the umbrella of legitimacy, 17 Yemeni political parties and components praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s firm stance on the southern issue, stressing that it is a just cause with deep historical and social dimensions, and that it can only be resolved through dialogue and national consensus, far from the language of imposition and the politics of fait accompli.
Call to end the escalation in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra
In a joint statement, political parties and groups welcomed the position issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which included a clear and explicit call for restoring the situation in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra to its previous state. The statement stressed the necessity of the Southern Transitional Council forces returning to their barracks and previous positions outside the two governorates, and their immediate withdrawal in accordance with organized security and military arrangements under the direct supervision of the Saudi-led coalition supporting the legitimate government.
The parties affirmed in their statement, published by the official Yemeni news agency (Saba), that this Saudi position represents the essence of a wise approach to the current crisis, and the correct approach to containing the military and political escalation, and preventing the imposition of any new realities by force of arms, noting that restoring security and stability in the eastern governorates is a fundamental pillar for preserving social peace and protecting the legal status of the Republic of Yemen.
Context of the Riyadh Agreement and the unity of the Leadership Council
These developments come at a sensitive time for the Yemeni arena, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been striving to bridge the divide between the components of the Yemeni legitimacy since the signing of the Riyadh Agreement in 2019, and the subsequent consultations that led to the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022. These ongoing efforts aim to unify the internal front to confront the economic and security challenges, and to end the Houthi coup.
The political parties reiterated their full support for the Presidential Leadership Council's efforts to contain the situation, calling on the Southern Transitional Council to prioritize the supreme national interest, heed the voice of reason and wisdom, and create a conducive political environment for a just and comprehensive resolution to the Southern issue. They emphasized that solutions must be based on the agreed-upon frameworks, namely the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue, the Riyadh Agreement, and the Declaration on the Transfer of Power, in a manner that guarantees the preservation of Yemen's unity, security, and stability.
The risks of unilateral actions and their regional impact
The political factions warned that unilateral actions and uncoordinated military movements primarily harm the just cause of the South and threaten the gains achieved in recent years. They indicated that such actions could drag the cause into complex regional dynamics, isolating it from its Yemeni and Arab context and excluding it from any future political entitlements within the framework of a final solution to the Yemeni crisis.
It is worth noting that the list of signatories to the statement included a wide spectrum of political forces, namely: the General People’s Congress, the Yemeni Islah Gathering, the Nasserist Popular Unity Organization, the Southern Peaceful Movement, the Yemeni Rashad Party, the Justice and Construction Party, the Southern National Coalition, the Renaissance Movement for Peaceful Change, the National Solidarity Party, the Yemeni Unity Gathering Party, the Union of Popular Forces, the Peace and Development Party, the Arab Socialist Baath Party, the Hadhramaut National Council, the Arab Socialist Baath Party, the Shabwa National General Council, and the Republican Party.
