Yemen’s formation of a power-sharing government, in accordance with the terms of the Riyadh Agreement jointly signed with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in November last year, has received international and Arab and Gulf welcome.
Each of the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait have welcomed the implementation of the deal on Saturday and praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts.
Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber confirmed that the new cabinet will arrive in the interim Yemeni capital, Aden, within 10 days.
Speaking to Al Arabiya, the diplomat said that the government will be transferred after logistic arrangements are completed.
Jaber accredited the formation of a new Yemeni governments to parties coming together and fulfilling their share of obligations laid out by the Riyadh Agreement.
The coming phase for Yemenis is both fresh and promising, he added.
Jaber also reiterated his country’s commitment to achieving stability in Yemen, asserting that the Kingdom will continue to back peacemaking efforts there.
Noting that formation talks had spanned for 50 days, Jaber said that Saudi sponsorship and the Riyadh Agreement will guarantee the return of government to Aden.
The new cabinet was “an important step for enhanced stability, improvement of state institutions and increased political partnership. It is also a pivotal step toward a lasting political resolution to the conflict,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy to Yemen.
Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Assoumi, chairman of the Arab Parliament, said the formation of the new government would help restore security, stability and unity, activate state institutions, enable the implementation of development projects in liberated areas, and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Mubarak Al-Hajraf praised Yemeni parties for prioritizing the interests of the people, supporting the new government and playing a role in ending the Yemeni crisis. He also thanked the Arab Coalition for supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The UAE said it hoped this development would lead to a political solution to the crisis. Bahrain called it an important step in strengthening and unifying Yemeni efforts to confront the Iran-backed Houthi militias and achieve security, peace and stability for the Yemeni people.
The new government, announced by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi on Yemeni state TV late on Friday, 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.
