The Southern Consultative Meeting, which aims to unify visions and address outstanding issues in southern Yemen, specifically the Hadramawt file, kicked off in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Sunday, in a move that reflects regional interest in ending tensions and promoting stability in the liberated areas.
Praise for continued Saudi support
In press statements coinciding with the start of the consultations, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council member and Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Giants Brigades, Abdul Rahman Abu Zara'a al-Mahrami, affirmed that the participating delegations felt a positive and explicit support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the moment they arrived. Al-Mahrami indicated that this support was not a recent development, but rather an extension of the Kingdom's steadfast positions towards Yemen.
Al-Mahrami explained that the Yemeni leadership received firm assurances of continued support for the Southern Forces, which play a pivotal role in maintaining security and combating terrorism, in addition to their steadfastness on the front lines against the Houthi militias. He emphasized that the generous economic support provided by Riyadh underscores the strength of the strategic partnership between the South and the Kingdom, which positively impacts the lives of citizens.
The political path and the state option
Speaking about the future of the South, the member of the Presidential Leadership Council affirmed that dialogue and the political process are the best and only option for restoring the "State of South Yemen" and fulfilling the aspirations of the southern people. He noted that these consultations, sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, provide a safe framework for bridging viewpoints and ensuring the political process proceeds in a way that safeguards the rights of all parties.
General context and importance of consultations
These consultations come at a sensitive time for the Yemeni file, as the anti-Houthi parties seek to unify their internal ranks within the framework of the Presidential Leadership Council that was formed in Riyadh in April 2022. These meetings are of paramount importance given the need to resolve differences in viewpoints among the various southern components, especially with regard to the status of the strategic, oil-rich Hadramawt Governorate.
Saudi Arabia, as the leader of the Arab Coalition, is playing a pivotal role in sponsoring these dialogues, building on its previous efforts that culminated in the 2019 Riyadh Agreement, which aimed to defuse tensions between the legitimate government and the Southern Transitional Council. These current consultations are seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the domestic front and direct efforts toward restoring the state and ending the coup, or to pave the way for a comprehensive peace process.
Regional and international impact
The importance of these consultations extends beyond domestic affairs to encompass regional and international security. The stability of southern Yemen, which overlooks the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, is a cornerstone of international maritime security and global energy supplies. Therefore, the success of these consultations in Riyadh and the preservation of security and stability in the southern governorates, as Al-Mahrami pointed out, directly serves the interests of Arab national security and international peace, and thwarts extremist organizations attempting to exploit the security vacuum.
