Saudi Arabia rejects the Southern Transitional Council's moves in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra and calls for calm
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its firm stance regarding the recent developments in Yemen's eastern provinces, emphasizing that the military movements undertaken by the Southern Transitional Council in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra governorates constitute an unacceptable unilateral escalation. The Kingdom clarified that these movements were carried out without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council or the leadership of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, thus violating the agreed-upon mechanisms for unifying the Yemeni ranks.
Official sources indicated that this unjustified escalation does not serve the interests of the Yemeni people, but rather directly harms the gains of the just southern cause and obstructs the coalition's efforts to restore the state and achieve security and stability. Riyadh stressed the need for an immediate halt to these movements and the return of forces to their previous positions, calling on all parties to prioritize the supreme national interest.
Context of the Riyadh Agreement and Unifying Ranks
These developments come at a sensitive time in the Yemeni crisis, as Saudi Arabia has exerted strenuous diplomatic and political efforts to bridge the divide between the Yemeni factions opposed to the Houthis. These efforts previously culminated in the Riyadh Agreement and the Riyadh consultations, which led to the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council. This council aims to unify all military and political factions under a single umbrella to confront the economic and security challenges and end the coup.
Unilateral actions are considered a violation of the spirit of political consensus sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as the agreement stipulates the integration of military and security forces and the unification of military decision-making under the umbrella of the Ministries of Defense and Interior in the legitimate government, to ensure that efforts are not scattered in side conflicts.
The strategic importance of Hadhramaut and Al Mahrah
The governorates of Hadramawt and Al Mahrah hold immense strategic and geopolitical importance, not only for Yemen but for the entire region. Hadramawt is the largest governorate in Yemen by area and possesses significant oil reserves, while Al Mahrah forms Yemen's eastern gateway, bordering the Sultanate of Oman. These areas have historically remained relatively untouched by direct military conflict, making them havens for displaced persons and centers of commercial activity.
Observers believe that attempting to impose unilateral military control over these sensitive areas could incite tribal and regional tensions and threaten the social fabric in eastern Yemen, something the Kingdom has consistently warned against, stressing that the security of these governorates is an integral part of Yemeni and regional national security.
Impact on international peace efforts
This escalation comes at a time when international and UN efforts are intensifying to push for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis. The international community fears that infighting among factions within the legitimate government will weaken its negotiating position vis-à-vis the Houthis and undermine the chances of extending the truce or achieving a lasting peace.
The Kingdom concluded its statement by reaffirming its full support for the Presidential Leadership Council and its commitment to supporting all efforts leading to a comprehensive political solution that ends the suffering of the Yemeni people, stressing that dialogue is the only way to resolve political and military differences between comrades-in-arms.
