Saudi Arabia has formally accepted a request from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council to host a comprehensive conference in Riyadh aimed at resolving the crisis in southern Yemen. The Saudi foreign ministry issued a statement urging all southern actors to participate actively so the meeting can produce fair, widely accepted solutions for southern grievances.
Saudi Arabia Yemen conference aims for inclusive dialogue
The ministry said the invitation responds to a direct appeal from Presidential Council head Rashad al-Alimi, who asked Riyadh to convene a conference bringing together all southern factions, political forces and notable figures. Saudi officials framed the offer as part of the kingdom’s efforts to support Yemen’s stability and to create a constructive environment for dialogue.
Riyadh stressed that the southern question has deep historical and social dimensions and that the only viable route to address it is through political dialogue within a comprehensive settlement for Yemen. The statement called on participants to pursue solutions that meet the legitimate aspirations of southerners while preserving Yemen’s unity and the dignity of its people.
Al-Alimi told state media that he hopes the conference will include every southern component without exclusion, explicitly naming the Southern Transitional Council among those expected to attend. He argued that an inclusive process is necessary to prevent marginalisation and to avoid repeating past injustices.
The call for an inclusive conference follows a unilateral announcement by Southern Transitional Council leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi, who on Friday declared a two-year transitional period culminating in a referendum on southern independence. Al-Zubaidi appealed to the international community to sponsor a comprehensive political dialogue and to oversee a transparent referendum process.
The move drew immediate pushback from elements within the internationally recognised Yemeni authorities. Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Ahmed Naaman described al-Zubaidi’s declaration as a unilateral act outside the bounds of legitimate negotiation and said it had not been coordinated with other Yemeni parties.
Saudi Arabia’s offer to host the conference places Riyadh at the centre of efforts to mediate between competing southern claims and the central authorities in Sanaa and Aden. Regional mediation by Saudi Arabia could provide neutral ground for negotiations and reassure parties that talks will aim at a consensual political outcome.
Observers say the success of any Riyadh-hosted conference will depend on whether major southern actors choose to participate in good faith and whether discussions are linked to a broader peace process for Yemen. Integrating the southern issue into a comprehensive political framework would help avoid fragmentation and contribute to the country’s long-term stability.
As preparations potentially move forward, diplomatic actors and international partners will likely be watching closely. A Riyadh conference that secures broad participation could lower tensions and offer a pathway to durable compromise, while failure to engage key stakeholders risks entrenching divisions and prolonging instability in southern governorates.
For now, Riyadh’s acceptance of the request signals an appetite for mediated, diplomatic solutions and underscores the kingdom’s regional role in facilitating dialogue on complex internal disputes in Yemen.
Key Takeaways:
- Saudi Arabia welcomed a request from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council to host a Saudi Arabia Yemen conference in Riyadh to address the southern Yemen crisis.
- The Riyadh meeting is intended to include all southern components, including the Southern Transitional Council, and to produce an inclusive political solution.
- Riyadh emphasised that the southern issue must be resolved through dialogue within a comprehensive political framework for Yemen’s stability.
- Recent unilateral moves by the Southern Transitional Council have raised tensions, highlighting the need for a mediated, multilateral process.
