Saudi Arabia supports comprehensive southern dialogue to enhance Yemen's stability
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering support for the comprehensive southern dialogue efforts in Yemen, stressing the necessity for these initiatives to be based on genuine national partnership, free from any attempts at monopolization or exclusion of any political or social group in the southern governorates. This support stems from the Kingdom's commitment, as the leader of the Arab Coalition, to unifying the Yemeni ranks and bridging the internal divide to ensure the stability of liberated areas and to focus efforts on restoring the state and ending the coup.
Political and historical context: From the Riyadh Agreement to the Leadership Council
The current Saudi position cannot be understood in isolation from the long political process Riyadh has sponsored over the past years, particularly since the signing of the Riyadh Agreement in November 2019. This agreement aimed primarily to end military and political tensions in the south and unify efforts to confront shared challenges. The formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022 constituted another pivotal step in this process, as the Kingdom sought to bring together various Yemeni factions, including the Southern Transitional Council and other southern groups (such as the Hadhramaut Inclusive Conference and the Southern National Salvation Council), under a single legitimate framework. The call for comprehensive dialogue today is a continuation of these efforts to ensure that no southern voice is marginalized in shaping the future.
The importance of the Southern Dialogue and the challenges of representation
The importance of a comprehensive southern dialogue lies in its being the cornerstone for achieving stability in the interim capital, Aden, and the rest of the southern governorates. The Saudi leadership and observers of Yemeni affairs understand that the continuation of political polarization or any attempt by any party to monopolize southern representation could lead to counterproductive results, hindering the functioning of state institutions and negatively impacting the living conditions and services available to citizens. Therefore, the Saudi emphasis on "inclusivity" reflects a strategic vision aimed at including all active forces, whether traditional political parties, youth movements, or tribal and community leaders, to ensure national and sustainable dialogue outcomes that are acceptable to all.
Expected impact: Local stability and regional and international dimensions
The success of the Southern Dialogue, according to the comprehensive Saudi vision, is expected to strengthen the internal front of the legitimate government and the Presidential Leadership Council, thus bolstering the legitimacy's negotiating position in any comprehensive UN-sponsored peace talks aimed at ending the Yemeni crisis. Domestically, a Southern-Southern consensus will improve the security and economic environment in liberated areas, paving the way for accelerating reconstruction and development projects supported by the Kingdom through the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen. Regionally and internationally, the stability of southern Yemen is considered an integral part of regional security and maritime security in the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. This makes the Kingdom and the international community keen to ensure the success of any dialogue process that unites rather than divides, and closes the door to foreign interventions that thrive on internal divisions.
In conclusion, the Saudi role remains the greatest guarantor of bringing the parties closer together, as Riyadh always affirms that it stands at an equal distance from everyone, calling on all parties to prioritize the higher interest of Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering through comprehensive and sustainable political solutions.
