Egypt welcomes formation of presidential council at Yemen, aspires for national congruence on conclusion of transitional phase

CAIRO – 7 April 2022: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the formation of a presidential council at Yemen expressing hope that the step would help the fellow Arab state achieve stability by reaching"Yemeni-Yemeni" congruence on the conclusion of the transitional phase and termination of the conflict.

The ministry added that Egypt has been closely following up on such development on the Yemeni scene, given that the council's mission is assuming the tasks of the transitional phase as well as those of the president of the republic in abidance by the constitution, the Gulf initiative, and its executive mechanisms.  

Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi stepped down Thursday passing on his duties to a presidential council. He also dismissed his deputy to pave the way for the revival of negotiations that stalled for seven years, as reported by Reuters.

After Hadi, who is based in Riyadh, announced his decision, Saudi Arabia pledged a financial aid worth $3 billion to Yemen. It also called for the council, consisting of eight members, to hold talks with Houthis, who control the northern part of the country, and who carried out attacks against different facilities on Saudi territories.

On April 1, a nationwide two-month truce was agreed between the warring parties in Yemen, which would allow the entry of oil imports into Houthi strongholds and increasing flights from Sanaa airport.

U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg stated that the truce, which is the first of its kind since 2016, can be renewed, if there is congruence among the parties involved. It is noted that the truce began Saturday which marked the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The ceasefire is expected to relieve Yemenis from suffering for a while, as 80 percent of the population relies on aid amid a collapse of all necessary services, including healthcare.

The deal provides the suspension of all military operations, including cross-border ones, and permitting tankers transporting fuel into Houthi-held Hodeidah port as well as the landing and take-off of commercial flights at Sanaa International Airport "to predetermined destinations in the region," according to Reuters.