Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia met with the head of the newly formed Yemeni Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, on Thursday.
Bin Salman expressed hope that the new council would help Yemen transition from a state of war to one of peace and development, according to Saudi state media.
Additionally, the Saudi Crown Prince emphasized the Kingdom’s desire to see Yemen achieve security and stability.
Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi delegated his authority to a new presidential council on Thursday to oversee the country’s transitional period.
Saudi Arabia welcomed Yemen’s announcement and urged the newly formed body to “initiate negotiations with the Houthis under the auspices of the United Nations for a final and comprehensive solution.”
The new presidential council is composed of seven vice presidents, including Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the head of the Southern Transitional Council and a United Arab Emirates-backed figure.
Sultan Ali Al-Arada, Tariq Mohammed Saleh, Abdulrahman Abu Zara’a, Abdullah Bawazeer, Othman Hussein Megally, and Farah Salmin Al-Bahsani are the additional members.
Yemen has been engulfed in violence and instability since 2014, when the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels took control of a large portion of the country, including the capital Sanaa.
A Saudi-led coalition seeking to restore Yemen’s government has exacerbated the crisis, resulting in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. According to UN estimates, nearly 80%, or approximately 30 million people, require humanitarian assistance and protection, with more than 13 million at risk of starvation.
