The UAE on Saturday urged de-escalation and constructive dialogue to resolve Yemen’s internal disputes, after Saudi Arabia said it was ready to host talks on the southern issue.
In a statement shared with The National, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was closely following recent developments in Yemen and expressed its "deep concern over the ongoing escalation".
"The UAE calls upon the brotherly Yemeni people to prioritise wisdom, exercise restraint, and work to ensure security and stability in the country," it added.
"The UAE further affirms that de-escalation and constructive dialogue remain the most effective path to overcoming current challenges, contributing to lasting stability in Yemen and the region, and fulfilling the aspirations of their peoples for security and prosperity."
Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Arabia welcomed a request from Rashad Al Alimi, the chief of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), to hold talks in Riyadh and called on all southern factions to join the conference.
The dialogue aims to develop a comprehensive vision for “just solutions” to the southern issue that "fulfil the legitimate aspirations of the southern people", the Saudi government said.
The Saudi authorities have not yet announced who will be invited or when the conference will be convened. However, Mr Al Alimi said he hoped the talks would include "all southern components, forces and figures without exception, including the Southern Transitional Council" (STC).
Mr Al Alimi spoke after the STC announced the launch of a two-year transitional phase culminating in a referendum on self-determination for the south.
Qatar, Bahrain, and other countries welcomed Mr Al Alimi's call to hold the conference.
In Doha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Qatar's "appreciation" to Saudi Arabia for hosting the talks, "as part of its ongoing support for efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the Republic of Yemen". Qatar emphasised the importance of all southern factions participating in the conference.
Jamal Rushdi, spokesman for the Arab League's Secretary-General, said that the southern issue has "just" aspects that must be addressed through dialogue within a "comprehensive Yemeni framework".
Weeks of tension spiralled into clashes on the ground on Friday as Hadhramaut's governor, backed by the PLC chief, launched a military operation to retake the STC-held positions, risking internal bloodshed at a fragile moment. The STC said air strikes hit areas in the south, and the Hadhramaut governor later said that forces took control of the largest military camp in the governorate. The National was unable to independently verify the claims.
The STC had taken control of Hadhramaut and Mahra from other pro-government forces, effectively consolidating its grip over all southern governorates. It said the developments followed the failure of other pro-government factions to launch a serious campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in their northern strongholds, including the capital, Sanaa.
However, Saudi Arabia condemned the STC’s takeover. The kingdom has led the anti-Houthi alliance since 2015, with the UAE playing a key role in halting the advance of the Iran-backed rebels, expelling them from the south and combating extremist groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed on Saturday the conclusion of its counter-terrorism presence in Yemen.
In its statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of de-escalation, "giving precedence to dialogue over confrontation, and addressing existing differences among Yemenis through understanding and consensus on sustainable political solutions".
"This should be pursued through a rational and responsible approach that prioritises the interests of the country and its people, with stability and prosperity as the foremost priorities," it added.
Southern forces, trained by the UAE, played a significant role in driving Houthi fighters out of south Yemen and combating terrorism between 2015 and 2018. The STC later emerged as a political umbrella for many of the southern forces involved in those campaigns.
Yemen’s unification in 1990 brought together two states whose divisions were never fully resolved. The north emerged from a 1962 uprising, while Britain’s 1967 withdrawal from Aden shaped the south.
