The Transitional Council in Yemen Welcomes Saudi Invitation for Comprehensive Southern Dialogue

SadaNews - The Southern Transitional Council in Yemen welcomed Saudi Arabia's invitation to sponsor a comprehensive southern dialogue, considering it a real opportunity to launch serious and responsible discussions that protect the future of the south and preserve its security and stability, according to an official statement issued by the council.

 

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs had called on all southern components in Yemen to participate in a conference hosted by the Kingdom, at the request of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad al-Alimi, aimed at crystallizing a comprehensive vision for just solutions to the southern issue.

The Transitional Council clarified in its statement on Sunday that it views the Saudi invitation as consistent with its ongoing efforts to secure serious regional and international sponsorship for the rights of the southern people, ensuring that the issue is addressed in a fair and sustainable manner that meets the aspirations of the southern street.

The council noted its participation in various dialogue stations sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, starting from the Riyadh Agreement in 2019, through the Riyadh Consultations in 2022, to the comprehensive southern dialogue that led to the adoption of the Southern National Charter in 2023.

The council emphasized at the conclusion of its statement that any serious dialogue must start from the recognition of the will of the southern people, within a clear and specific timeframe, and with full international guarantees, affirming that a public referendum will remain the decisive criterion for any future proposals or political solutions.

The invitation to start a dialogue on the southern issue came in the wake of political and military escalations witnessed in the southern and eastern provinces of Yemen in recent times, a call that has been welcomed by all Gulf countries.

On the ground, the Yemeni scene has witnessed rapid developments in recent hours, represented by the withdrawal of the Southern Transitional Council forces from vital sites in the eastern province of Al-Mahrah, coinciding with a noticeable advance of government forces in the province of Hadhramaut.

In this context, the President of the Southern Transitional Council, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, announced on Friday the start of a transitional period extending for two years, followed by a referendum on the independence of the south, calling on the international community to sponsor a comprehensive political dialogue culminating in a referendum that ensures the right to self-determination through peaceful and transparent mechanisms, with the participation of international observers.