Senior Yemeni Official Presses STC to Engage in Saudi Arabia Talks

(MENAFN) A senior Yemeni official has issued an urgent appeal for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to participate in critical peace talks hosted by Saudi Arabia, as the nation grapples with its most severe escalation in years.

Abdullah Al-Alimi, serving on the Presidential Leadership Council, pressed for the STC's "active and positive" engagement in the upcoming dialogue conference scheduled to take place on Saudi soil.

Writing on X, the platform owned by the American social media corporation, Al-Alimi expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its "sincere efforts" aimed at restoring stability and safeguarding civilians, especially across Hadhramaut, Shabwa, and Al-Mahra provinces.

He commended Riyadh's decision to facilitate an all-encompassing "south–south dialogue," characterizing the move as evidence of Saudi commitment to regional peace and security.

Al-Alimi emphasized that the conference must encompass every southern political entity and leader, including the STC, with no exclusions to accurately represent southern diversity and prevent the recurrence of historical grievances.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry previously endorsed a proposal from Yemen's presidential council chairman Rashad al-Alimi to conduct the conference in Riyadh, focused on formulating a complete strategy for resolving the southern question. Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have also released declarations supporting the effort.

Concurrently, Shabwa Governor Awad Mohammed bin al-Wazir announced that provincial authorities would collaborate with the Saudi-led Arab coalition to maintain order, as friction continues between government troops and STC combatants throughout southern and eastern Yemen.

"We affirm our support for the coalition's efforts and will work with it to stabilize Shabwa," bin al-Wazir declared in an official statement, voicing trust in Saudi Arabia's contribution to ensuring security and facilitating discussions concerning the southern matter.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki acknowledged the governor's position, confirming the coalition's ongoing dedication to preserving Shabwa's stability and stating that no military units would enter the province without coordinating with local governing bodies.

Yemen has experienced an unparalleled surge in violence since Tuesday, following the STC forces' seizure of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in early December. These two provinces comprise approximately half of Yemen's landmass and border Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, STC leader Aidrous al-Zubaidi declared a two-year "transitional phase" involving negotiations with entities in northern Yemen and a "referendum" determining the south's destiny.

The declaration emerged during a diplomatic rupture between Saudi Arabia and the UAE after Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of "pushing STC forces to carry out military operations" along the kingdom's southern frontier in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. The UAE has rejected the allegation.

The STC contends that consecutive Yemeni administrations have systematically marginalized southern territories politically and economically, advocating for independence. Yemeni officials dispute this assertion and reaffirm their dedication to national unity.

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