Saudi Arabia has announced that it will host a conference to bring together all southern factions in Yemen to discuss what it described as “just solutions to the southern cause.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the conference is being convened in response to a request from Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council. The ministry said the only viable path to resolving Yemen’s southern issue is through dialogue within the framework of a comprehensive political solution for the country.
The statement added that the initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to support and strengthen Yemen’s security and stability, as well as to provide a conducive environment for dialogue among Yemeni stakeholders.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in Yemen. On Friday, the Yemeni government launched a military operation against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the eastern province of Hadramout.
Following the operation, the STC announced the start of a two-year transitional period during which it would administer the southern parts of the country. The council said the transitional phase would be followed by a referendum on the independence of southern Yemen.
