Preparations are underway for the return of Yemeni Prime Minister Dr. Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed and his team to the temporary capital, Aden, in light of the implementation of the Saudi-sponsored Riyadh Agreement that was signed last week to end a struggle in the country's south, Yemeni sources have said.
President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi gave his directives on Sunday to all state apparatuses and institutions to immediately work on the implementation of the agreement.
For its part, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry announced resuming its work in Aden starting Nov. 10 in response to the guidance of the President.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking Yemeni official said the PM and a small team of ministers are currently getting ready to move to Aden where they would resume their work.
“The return to the temporary capital is expected very soon. Preparations are underway, but we are waiting for some arrangements to be completed,” the official said.
He added that several ministries have continued to function in Aden through undersecretaries.
“Even the Interior Ministry, which stopped operating from Aden during the conflict, would open its doors and soon begin to issue passports,” the official said.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that in the next Yemeni government, several ministries would be merged. “Based on the Riyadh Agreement, there would be 24 ministries in total,” the official said. Currently, there are more than 37 ministries in Yemen.
He said all eight Ministries of State would be canceled.
Based on the Agreement, the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council are required to form a new government of 24 ministers equally from the south and the north within 30 days.
On Sunday, Hadi said he was confident that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is serious and keen to implement the Agreement, also appreciating Riyadh’s leadership for securing the success of the deal as well as the UAE, and to limit arms to the state alone and disrupt the opportunity of those plotting against Yemen, external forces and terrorist groups.
On Tuesday, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sponsored the signing of the agreement between the legitimate government and the STC that took place in the Saudi capital.
