The UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, is in Aden where he met with the prime minister, Maeen Abdulmalik, to discuss ways to salvage the Riyadh agreement between the recognised Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC). Grundburg stressed the need to implement the Riyadh agreement noting its economic, social and political benefits.
The discussion covered the security aspects of the Riyadh agreement which the government says that the STC is failing to adhere to. Aden is currently home to several security forces that often are in a state of competition with each other. Previously, the government complained that its staff were not allowed to work from Aden. More broadly, the discussions also focused on ways to reach a comprehensive political solution.
“Ending the conflict and reaching a comprehensive and inclusive political solution that meets the aspirations of Yemenis should be the primary and urgent objective of all relevant actors. It is a shared responsibility that requires everyone’s full commitment to peace efforts,” Grundberg said before departing to Yemen.
In his talks with the UN envoy, Abdulmalik also discussed the disruptive role of the Houthis in undermining the country’s security, and blackmailing the world. The message from the Yemeni government and its allies to the UN envoy was that the Houthis are not serious about peace and were continuing with their attacks on both Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Grundberg also met the leader of the STC, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, and is expected to meet leaders of the main political and social forces in Aden. His visit to Aden follows on from a visit to Riyadh earlier this week where he also met several Saudi and Yemeni senior officials as well as EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.
