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 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.
