Saudi Arabia has welcomed a request by Yemen’s internationally recognised government to convene a comprehensive conference in Riyadh aimed at bringing together all factions to reach a political solution to the southern issue.
Qatar has welcomed steps taken by Yemen’s internationally recognised government to advance dialogue on the Southern Issue, describing the move as an important effort to bring Yemenis together around fair and inclusive solutions.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, commended the request by President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, to convene a comprehensive conference in Riyadh, saying it reflects his “commitment to dialogue as a means of addressing national issues”.
Qatar’s foreign ministry thanked Saudi Arabia for its readiness to host the proposed talks, saying the move reflects the Kingdom’s continued efforts to support security and stability in Yemen.
Doha stressed the importance of the constructive participation of all southern components in the Riyadh conference, underlining that the interests of the Yemeni people must remain the priority.
It emphasised adherence to the outcomes of Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference as the consensual framework for any inclusive political settlement that preserves Yemen’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Warning against unilateral actions, the ministry said that “declarations and measures taken without consultation and consensus among Yemeni parties, and without engaging in serious and responsible dialogue, could lead to a slide toward chaos, harming the interests of the brotherly Yemeni people and undermining prospects for reaching a sustainable political settlement”.
It reaffirmed Qatar’s “full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at advancing the political process” and ending the Yemeni crisis through dialogue and peaceful means.
Qatar’s position comes amid rapidly unfolding developments in Yemen over the past few days, particularly in the eastern governorate of Hadhramaut, where clashes erupted between government-backed National Shield forces and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council as the state moved to reassert control over military camps and security institutions.
The escalation, which unfolded close to the Saudi border, prompted Riyadh to intensify both its security and diplomatic engagement, underscoring concerns that unilateral moves by southern factions could further destabilise Yemen and threaten regional stability.
A statement published on President Al-Alimi’s official website said an official source confirmed he has been closely monitoring appeals from citizens and groups in southern governorates, voicing concern over preserving the essence and unity of the Southern Cause and rejecting exclusionary calls that do not reflect the South’s diversity.
The President reaffirmed that the Southern Cause is “a just and central issue” in building a modern Yemeni state, and stressed that southerners have the right to a fair and equitable resolution that respects historical and social dimensions while preserving dignity, rights, security and development.
He underlined that resolving the issue cannot be monopolised by any single party or achieved through unilateral measures, but must be the outcome of collective will and responsible dialogue based on agreed national, regional and international references.
These include the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism, the Riyadh Agreement, GCC-sponsored Yemeni-Yemeni consultations, the Declaration of Transfer of Power, and relevant international legitimacy resolutions. The leadership, the source added, categorically rejects imposing faits accomplis by force or using weapons for political gains that carry no legal or constitutional weight.
In response to southern appeals, President Al-Alimi formally requested Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to host and sponsor the conference in Riyadh. He expressed hope that it would include all southern forces and figures “without exception”, including the Southern Transitional Council, and reflect the South’s diversity while avoiding past injustices.
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the request, with its foreign ministry urging all southern factions to actively participate in order to develop “a comprehensive vision for just solutions” that fulfil the legitimate aspirations of the southern people.
