Yemeni Prime Minister-designate Maeen Abdulmalik resumed discussions with political parties on forming a cabinet after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) rolled back its decision to suspend its participation in government formation talks.
The STC had suspended its participation in protest to military escalation and poor public services in areas liberated from Houthi militias.
After meeting with an STC delegation headed by Nasser Al-Khabji, Abdulmalik announced that an agreement was established to resume government formation consultations.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, who is also Supervisor of the Saudi Program for Development and Reconstruction of Yemen.
These developments followed STC Chairman Eidroos al-Zobaidi on Monday calling Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is currently in the US for medical tests, to ask about his health.
At the meeting, Abdulmalik and the STC delegation discussed efforts for implementing the Riyadh Agreement’s accelerating mechanism.
According to Saba news agency, it was agreed to continue talks on the formation of a new government and the redeployment of all armed forces in Aden.
The meeting also discussed challenges facing the implementation of the mechanism.
"The Riyadh Agreement contains legitimate interests of all parties and represents gains for the State, Yemeni people and all political and social powers," Abdulmalik said.
While Abdulmalik and the STC delegation valued the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards achieving peace and stability in Yemen and the region, Al Jaber lauded the keenness of the two sides to commit to implementing the Riyadh Agreement and its accelerating mechanism.
STC Spokesman Nizar Haitham confirmed that the delegation’s meeting with Abdulmalik and Al Jaber was positive.
“All issues were discussed, and there will be a breakthrough in the government formation consultations,” Haitham told Asharq Al-Awsat.
