Yemen: Riyadh Agreement progress 'encouraging,' says UAE foreign minister

Dr Anwar Gargash praised Saudi Arabia's efforts to implement a peace deal between Yemen government and Southern separatists

Developments in implementing an agreement to end the power struggle in southern Yemen are “encouraging”, Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday.

Last year, Saudi Arabia brokered a peace deal referred to as the Riyadh Agreement between Yemen’s internationally recognised government and The Southern Transitional Council after clashes erupted between forces allied to the two sides in Aden.

The southern city has been the interim seat of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi's administration since the Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of Sanaa in a coup in late 2014.

“We hope that the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council will overcome [their differences] and agree to the strategic vision on narrow tactical gains,” Dr Gargash said on Twitter.

In April, the STC declared a plan to move towards self-rule, accusing the government of delaying a cabinet shake-up.

Since then, clashes between the nominal allies have added to Yemen’s woes and complicated efforts protect Yemen’s fractured health system from the novel coronavirus.

“Restoring confidence requires making concessions,” Dr Gargash said.

The top official thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts in implementing the peace deal.

Dr Gargash's comments come as ambassadors from the permanent members of the UN Security Council to Yemen stressed the importance of implementing the deal on Sunday.

The efforts of United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths must be supported "in order to find a comprehensive solution" to the crisis, the ambassadors said during a meeting with Yemen's Foreign Minister Mohamed Al Hadhrami.

Mr Al Hadhrami told the ambassadors that his government will "remain engaged with Mr Griffiths and the UN peace process based on measures that will "alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people".

Yemen has been mired in violence that has killed more than 100,000 people since 2015, according to the UN.

The fallout from the Houthi coup of 2014 has led Yemen to be labelled as one of the world’s most desperate humanitarian disasters.