Al-Zindani: The government's return to Aden and reforms to the Yemeni Foreign Ministry
In recent statements to the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Dr. Shaya Al-Zindani, confirmed that the Yemeni government is about to return to the temporary capital, Aden, in the near future to carry out its duties, noting that this step comes within the framework of strengthening the presence of state institutions and activating their performance from within Yemen.
Al-Zindani explained that his retention of the foreign ministry portfolio, alongside the new government arrangements, was aimed at completing a series of fundamental reforms initiated by the ministry. These reforms primarily aim to rectify administrative deficiencies within the diplomatic corps, rationalize foreign currency expenditures, and ensure effective diplomatic representation that serves Yemen's best interests under the current political and economic circumstances.
Background to the appointment and the course of diplomatic reforms
Minister al-Zindani's remarks come at a crucial juncture for the Presidential Leadership Council and the government, particularly following his appointment as successor to former Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, who assumed the premiership. The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs faces structural challenges that have accumulated over the years of ongoing war since the Houthi coup. Chief among these is the excessive size of the diplomatic corps in embassies and foreign missions, exceeding regulations and placing a significant financial burden on the already strained state budget.
The Yemeni political leadership is seeking to implement a comprehensive austerity and reform plan, which includes reducing the number of diplomats, closing some unnecessary technical attachés, and restructuring missions in line with actual needs and available financial capabilities. This is the thorny issue that al-Zindani pledged to accomplish in order to ensure the efficiency of external performance.
The importance of returning to Aden and its local impact
The return of the full government to the interim capital, Aden, carries significant political and economic implications. Domestically, the presence of the Prime Minister and ministers in their offices is crucial for directly overseeing the provision of essential services to citizens, such as electricity, water, and healthcare, which have witnessed a marked decline, leading to waves of public discontent in the liberated governorates.
The permanent government presence also enhances the confidence of international donors and regional partners, and facilitates direct coordination with the Central Bank of Yemen to manage the complex economic situation and try to curb inflation and the collapse of the local currency (the Yemeni riyal), issues that require urgent field interventions and decisive decisions that cannot be effectively managed remotely.
Regional context and international support
These government moves come with clear support from the Saudi-led coalition supporting the legitimate government and the international community, who consistently emphasize in their statements the need to unify the Yemeni ranks and strengthen legitimate state institutions to confront security and economic challenges. The government's return is considered a crucial step to consolidating legitimacy on the ground and paving the way for any future political or negotiation process aimed at ending the conflict in Yemen in accordance with the agreed-upon terms of reference.
