Yemen leader hails secessionists' dissolution, pushes state disarmament

The head of Yemen's internationally recognized government has framed a major political development as a critical opportunity to rebuild the fractured state. Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi stated that achieving "disarmament and consolidating weapons under state authority" is the essential foundation for restoring the country's institutions to normal function, speaking during a meeting with the British Ambassador in Riyadh.

A Two-Pronged Advance: Military Control and Political Dissolution

Alimi linked two significant recent events as part of a unified strategy. He praised the government's successful takeover of military camps in the strategic eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra as a "critical step" toward reasserting central authority. Simultaneously, he welcomed the Southern Transitional Council's (STC) decision to dissolve itself, calling the move "brave and responsible" and a demonstration of awareness about the dangers of internal conflict. The STC, which had long pushed for southern secession, announced its dissolution on Friday following a failed attempt to seize eastern provinces in December.

Building Institutional Frameworks for a Unified Military

Chairman al-Alimi outlined the institutional mechanisms being put in place to manage this transition. He highlighted the recent formation of a Supreme Military Committee, established under the leadership of the Saudi-led coalition backing the government. This committee is tasked with providing a professional framework to unify and reorganize all military and security formations under the command of Yemen's defense and interior ministries, aiming to end the fragmentation of armed forces that has plagued the country for years.

A Call for State-Oriented Action Over Retribution

Looking forward, Alimi cautioned against a punitive approach. He stressed the need to address the implications of the STC's dissolution "with a state-oriented mindset rather than retaliation," warning against repeating past mistakes that led to exclusion, marginalization, or the militarization of political life. He argued that stabilizing state control in Aden and other areas would improve dire humanitarian conditions, facilitate aid delivery, and rebuild crucial international confidence, setting Yemen on a path toward overcoming its deep divisions since unification in 1990.