The talks between the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Yemen’s internationally recognized government led by President Hadi were reinstated in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Both sides’ representatives came together in Riyadh on Thursday.
The talks aim to take concrete steps to implement the Riyadh Agreement in order to resolve disagreements between the two sides in a peaceful manner.
Before, the STC announced in mid-June that it had suspended its participation in talks with the Yemeni government. The move came following the arrest of STC officials by the Yemeni government. According to the statement issued by the group, two prominent officials were arrested as they were crossing a checkpoint in the government-controlled Shabwa governorate.
STC spokesperson Ali Al Kathiri labeled the arrest of the officials as a “terrorist act,” and referred to government forces as “militias.”
The consultations between the two sides began in late May to make an ultimate decision for the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement.
Facilitating the talks between the two sides, Saudi Arabia reiterated its support to President Hadi and its government during the last meeting.
Despite these efforts, the STC had previously accelerated tension through politics and media by making military and political appointments without consulting with the Hadi government. Besides, the group also rejected several appointment decisions taken by President Hadi.
In 2019, both Hadi’s government and the STC leadership signed an agreement, also known as the Riyadh Initiative. According to the agreement, the two sides announced their commitments to accept political solutions and bring an end to the conflict that erupted between the two sides in 2019.
