Riyadh (TDI): Saudi Arabia has publicly backed a request from Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council to host comprehensive talks in Riyadh aimed at addressing the deepening crisis in southern Yemen.
In a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Riyadh welcomed the appeal by Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi and urged all southern factions to participate actively in the proposed conference.
The kingdom framed the southern issue as one with “historical and social dimensions” that must be resolved through political dialogue within the framework of a broader Yemeni peace process.
The invitation comes amid escalating unrest in the south, where forces allied with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized large swathes of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra provinces in recent weeks.
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These territories, which together account for nearly half of Yemen’s landmass and border Saudi Arabia, have been at the heart of a fierce power struggle pitting southern separatists against the government in Sanaa. Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of encouraging STC military action, an allegation denied by Abu Dhabi.
Riyadh’s call for an inclusive conference seeks to bring together all southern political components, including the STC, to discuss “just solutions” that address the legitimate aspirations of the southern population.
Saudi officials described the initiative as part of its longstanding position that political dialogue is the only viable route to lasting peace and stability in Yemen. They emphasized that the talks should reflect the diversity of voices in the south and guard against the marginalization of any group.
The backdrop to this diplomatic push has been a marked deterioration in security and intra-Gulf relations. The STC’s announcement of a two-year transitional phase toward an independence referendum has intensified tensions not only within Yemen but also between regional allies.
Read More: Oman, Saudi Arabia Hold Talks on Yemen as Gulf Allies Face Escalating Tensions
Saudi forces have reportedly engaged militarily to counter STC advances, while the UAE has signaled a shift in its military posture. These developments have strained the once-unified Gulf coalition that had focused on combating Houthi rebels in northern Yemen.
By hosting talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia appears to be repositioning itself as a key facilitator in Yemen’s fractured peace process.
The kingdom’s appeal to southern factions underscores its interest in preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity while addressing long-standing grievances that have fueled decades of conflict.
