Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced an agreement between Yemen’s internationally recognised government and UAE-backed separatists in what is described as power-sharing deal aimed to end infighting.
Mohammed bin Salman described it as the “Riyadh Agreement” and expressed his hope that this is a step towards a political solution to end the Saudi-Yemen four-year war.
“This agreement will open a new period of stability in Yemen. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands with you,” the Saudi crown prince said at a signing ceremony in Riyadh, he continued: “It’s a joyful day in Saudi as the two sides come together.”
The agreement will prompt a government reshuffle to include the separatists with fair representation, and their military forces will now come under government control.
Yemen expert Peter Salisbury, who leads a Brussels-based think-tank, said the agreement solves two short-term problems – it prevents a “war-within-a-war” between the southern separatists and the official government. It also provides credibility to a future government in negotiations with the Houthi rebels.
