Implementation of Riyadh Agreement praised, raises hopes of ending Yemen conflict
Yemen’s anti-Houthi
coalition was praised on Saturday after President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi
announced the formation of a power-sharing government, in line with the Riyadh
Agreement signed with the Southern Transitional Council last year.
Gulf states, including the
UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, welcomed the implementation of the agreement on
Saturday and praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts in reaching the deal.
The UAE said it hoped this
step leads to an implementation of a quick political solution to end the unrest
in Yemen, state news agency WAM.
While Bahrain called it an
important step to strengthen and unify Yemeni efforts to confront the
Iran-backed Houthi militia and achieve security, peace and stability for the
Yemeni people.
The new government,
announced by Hadi on Yemeni state TV late on Friday night, consists of 24
portfolios divided equally between the north and south.
The United Kingdom, which
has been heavily involved in the political process in Yemen, also welcomed the
formation of the new government and thanked Saudi Arabia’s efforts.
“This is an important step
towards the implementation of the Riyadh agreement between the government of
Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council, and another step towards peace
that the Yemenis desperately need,” British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab,
said.
Britain’s Middle East and
North Africa Minister, James Cleverly, echoed the response to the agreement,
which he stated needed to “urgently reinstate basic services.” He called for
the new cabinet to work with the United Nations special envoy Martin Griffiths
on “wider political progress” for the Yemen.
“This is an important step
for enhanced stability, improvement of state institutions and increased
political partnership”, Griffiths said.
“It is also a pivotal step towards a lasting
political resolution to the conflict in Yemen.”
The envoy noted that more
work needed to be done to include Yemeni women in the Cabinet and
decision-making posts, especially following the historic precedent that Yemen’s
political transition had set through the National Dialogue Conference.
