State of emergency in Yemen: Minister for the Middle East’s statement

On Saturday 25 April, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which represents a number of groups in southern Yemen, declared a state of emergency in Aden and the southern governorates of Yemen, adding that the council would assume administration of these areas as of midnight.

This declaration runs counter to the STC’s commitments in the Saudi-brokered Riyadh Agreement between itself and the Yemeni Government. The UK supports the Riyadh Agreement, which sets out a series of steps to establish an inclusive government and restore security and stability to southern Yemen.

The UK urges the parties to resume their efforts to implement the Agreement. The UK continues to work with relevant parties to help find a way forward and encourages the parties to refrain from unconstructive acts and statements.

We are also providing life-saving UK aid to help those in desperate need and to mitigate the dreadful prospect of coronavirus exacerbating Yemen’s dire humanitarian crisis.

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly said:

This is a deeply concerning move by the Southern Transitional Council, which risks prolonging the conflict by derailing efforts to establish an inclusive government and restore stability to southern Yemen.

The STC and the Government of Yemen must immediately and fully implement the Riyadh Agreement. This is the only way to deliver the peace and stability that southern Yemen so desperately needs.

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