Latest news with #RashadAlAlimi
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Alimi Praises Saudi Decision to Extend Masam Landmine Clearance Project
President of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi has praised Saudi Arabia's decision to extend the Project Masam contract for landmine clearance in Yemen. Al-Alimi lauded the decision, which includes an extension of the Masam project implementation for an additional year with a budget of $52,994,413. He also commended the leadership of the program and its team, along with all Saudi institutions involved in humanitarian, service, and developmental efforts across various fields. 'This great humanitarian effort by our brothers in the Kingdom, through the Masam project, which has so far removed nearly 500,000 landmines and various explosive devices, embodies a noble fraternal commitment to Yemen and its people, and contributes to alleviating the suffering caused by the war ignited by the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militias,' Al-Alimi said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemen's al-Alimi Criticizes International Concessions Made to the Houthis
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi has described the Houthis as an 'enduring' threat to Yemen, the region and international shipping lanes, and criticized what he termed 'incentives and concessions from certain international actors' made to the militias. During a panel discussion organized by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow on Thursday, al-Alimi stated: We are confronting a sectarian theocratic project that does not recognize the state or the law and is rooted in the ideology of divine right to rule. These are the very ideas Russia has historically opposed in various arenas, in defense of the civil state.' He criticized the lack of an accurate understanding of the Yemeni situation and the prevalence of misleading narratives in some international circles, including certain think tanks and decision-making institutions, which still view Yemen through a blurred lens or as part of a geopolitical conflict solvable through superficial compromises. He identified among these false narratives claims portraying the Houthis as an 'oppressed minority' suitable for political assimilation. 'The truth is we face an armed doctrinal movement grounding its authority in 'divine right' theology, while rejecting all civil state constructs and the principle of equal citizenship,' he said. Al-Alimi deemed even more dangerous the designation of the Houthis as a 'transient threat' linked to the repercussions of the Gaza war. He affirmed this to be a mistaken and misleading perception. He explained that the Houthis are an enduring and structural danger to Yemen, the region, and international shipping lanes. Al-Alimi drew attention to the fact that ship piracy, naval mine deployment, and Red Sea piracy did not begin in 2024, but have been a recurrent Houthi tactic for years. He affirmed that the Houthis' criminal conduct mirrors that of organizations and groups that Moscow itself condemns, including targeting airports and seaports, booby-trapping mosques, schools, and hospitals, suppressing women's rights, child conscription, and militarizing civilian infrastructure. He added: 'Despite all this, the Houthis continue to receive incentives and concessions from certain international actors, while the legitimate government, representing Yemen's constitutional framework, stands accused of weakness or division. This completely ignores the reality that it effectively controls approximately 70% of Yemen's territory and unites all national components under its umbrella.' 'What is required today is restoring the logic of the state against claims of divine guardianship ... while supporting legitimate institutions against illegitimate armed groups. This is the same principle Russia has consistently upheld in its global counterterrorism efforts,' he added. Al- Alimi reaffirmed Yemen's unequivocal position supporting the Palestinian people's right to an independent state and the imperative to halt Israeli aggressions. However, he stressed that this stance cannot be exploited to justify Iran's behavior in the region or to advance its agenda through proxies, as witnessed in Yemen. 'Iran's expansionist policies threaten not only Yemen but also destabilize the entire Red Sea and Horn of Africa region,' he warned. He noted with concern the Houthis' close ties with al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other criminal organizations, entities that share ideological alignment, mutual interests, and logistical cooperation with the group. 'This signals the resurgence of cross-border terrorist networks,' he said. Al-Alimi held talks in Moscow on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Alimi in Moscow to Garner Russian Support for Legitimate Yemeni Govt
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi held talks in Moscow on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin said cooperation with Yemen dates back to Soviet times and diplomatic ties between the two sides were established in 1928. Yemen and Russia have been cooperating actively for some one hundred years. He said the Russian embassy will resume operations in Yemen, reported Russia Today. 'The trade and economic relationship between Russia and Yemen is developing with success and holds several promising sectors,' he remarked. Al-Alimi was in Moscow at Putin's invitation and he sought to garner Russian support for the legitimate Yemeni government against the Iran-backed Houthi militias. Al-Alimi and Putin discussed ways to boost cooperation between their countries and coordinate positions on various issues of mutual interest. Putin underscored Russia's 'commitment to supporting Yemen and its people, and their aspirations for security, stability, and peace,' said a statement from Al-Alimi's office. 'He emphasized the deep historical relations between the two countries, which are based on longstanding traditions of friendship and mutual respect,' it added. Putin expressed his confidence in the development of these relations in a way that serves the interests of both nations and contributes to the security and stability of the region. For his part, Al-Alimi briefed Putin on the situation in Yemen and the hopes pinned on the outcomes of his visit to Moscow, which coincides with the 97th anniversary of the establishment of close relations between their nations. He highlighted the 'longstanding and solid Yemen-Russia friendship, rooted in goodwill, balanced interests, and Russia's significant support in strengthening the presence of the Yemeni state across various stages.' He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Russia's consistent stance in support of the Yemeni people and their constitutional legitimacy. He recalled the enduring legacy of cooperation between the two countries and peoples in areas such as economic, political, military, educational, health, and cultural cooperation. 'We in the leadership of the Republic of Yemen highly value Russia's supportive stance for constitutional legitimacy, as well as Moscow's commitment to achieving peace and stability and ending the suffering of the Yemeni people,' Al-Alimi stressed. 'We also appreciate Moscow's consistent condemnation of terrorist threats that destabilize maritime security and international peace and security.' Moreover, Al-Alimi addressed the deteriorating economic, service, and humanitarian conditions, exacerbated by the terrorist Houthi militia attacks on oil facilities. He acknowledged 'the significant financial support provided by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.' He underlined the importance of 'maintaining the cohesive stance of the international community regarding the Yemeni issue, and efforts to combat terrorism, piracy, and organized crime.' He also praised Russia's position in support of Arab causes, foremost among them the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state according to international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Al Etihad
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE President, VPs congratulate Chairman of Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen on National Day
22 May 2025 12:07 ABU DHABI (WAM) President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to Dr. Rashad Al Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, on the occasion of his country's National Day. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages to Dr. Al Alimi and Prime Minister Salem Saleh Salem bin Braik.
The National
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
35 years since unification, Yemen is more divided than ever
It could be argued that Yemen's conflict is merely a symptom of the Middle East's wider geopolitical issues. Others might say it is a cause in itself, or a contributing factor. But one thing can be agreed: 35 years since its unification between the northern and southern halves of the country – the former once controlled by the Ottomans and the latter once controlled by the British – the country remains more fragmented than ever. In 2014, the Houthis – a tribal militia and religious group from northern Yemen's poor, mountainous Saada region that had evolved into a major political and military force – took over Sanaa, the country's capital. In doing so, the militants, with backing from Iran, removed Yemen's internationally recognised government and went on to expand their rule to most of Yemen's north, where more than half of the country's population lives. This remains the situation today, even after a Saudi-led military coalition helped take back swathes of land from the Houthis in a multi-year war and prevented the rebel group from overrunning the entire country. But this is not a simple, good versus evil conflict; Yemen's present-day divisions are multi-layered and multi-faceted. An eight-member Presidential Leadership Council acts as the executive body of Yemen's internationally recognised government. Led by Rashad Al Alimi, the PLC was supposed to unite an otherwise divided anti-Houthi front. But tensions within the council are a poorly kept secret. Earlier this month, prime minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said he was stepping down after a little more than a year in office, blaming challenges he faced in making "necessary reforms" to state institutions. With different council members having strong military representation on the ground, the PLC has become a tool for exerting power rather than governance. This is largely down to the absence of a proper legal framework regulating the PLC's operations and defining its members' relationship to one another. The ambiguity surrounding the group's exact functions and authority on the ground has inevitably resulted in allegations of overreach and corruption against some of the forces under its members' control. The result of this is a fractured government incapable of asserting itself against militarily and politically against the Houthis' formidable forces. This has knock-on effects for the PLC's ability to provide effective governance for the people living in its territories. In Aden, the interim capital, the halls of Yemen's government have remained largely empty as officials fail to hold the meetings needed to move the country forward. Outside, the streets are frequently filled with protesters calling for better services and a higher standard of living. There is a lack of reliable electricity. The city is often without power – a potentially deadly outcome in Yemen's scorching summer heat, in which temperatures can exceed 40°C. Protesters have also focused on what they see as an overall worsening quality of life as well as the decline in the value of the Yemeni riyal. Constitutional reform that clarifies and limits the role of the PLC's members while strengthening the government as a whole would go a long way to resolving these issues. It would help to improve governance on the ground and the ability to provide basic services and provide a better quality of life for people who have escaped Houthi-run areas to government-held territory. In the meantime, the Houthis continue to fire ballistic missiles towards Israel and ships in the Red Sea that they claim are linked to Israeli commercial interests, ostensibly in protest at its unrelenting offensive in Gaza. Yemen's government has long been cut out of attempts to reach a peace deal with the Houthis, whether in 2023 when Saudi Arabia brokered a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire or, more recently, when US President Donald Trump announced a deal to end American air strikes on Houthi-held territory. Yemen's situation is becoming even more complex with a secessionist Southern Transitional Council that not only calls for the south's independence – a return to Yemen's pre-1990 partition – but also holds three out of the PLC's eight seats. A silver lining could be seen if the situation in Yemen were clearer and – even if bad – at least stable. But it's not. Matters have become worse, with US and Israeli forces targeting vital facilities like the port of Hodeidah, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis who rely on the humanitarian assistance that flows through it. Such attacks have put Yemen's already fragile humanitarian response at further risk, worsening people's lives further still, fuelling their anger and deepening rifts between them and those in power. Meanwhile, amid Yemen's enduring poverty and even as conflicts continue to rage in Gaza and Sudan, funding is dwindling for humanitarian relief efforts. In February, the World Health Organisation's Yemen country office appealed for $57.8 million to reach more than 10 million people with emergency health assistance. Yemenis who have lost faith in their respective rulers – whether in Houthi or government-controlled areas – are now looking elsewhere for hope. Talks between the US and Iran about a new nuclear agreement are continuing and experts believe that Iran could make concessions, including pulling its financial and intelligence support to the Houthis in exchange for sanctions relief. The declaration of the Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990, was a decisive moment for the country. But the optimism that greeted this new start has long since faded. Whether Yemen's conflict is the cause of some of today's problems in the Middle East, or simply a reflection of them is a moot point for ordinary Yemeni civilians who, once again, have fallen victim to decisions made by local and regional powers, when all they really need is food on the table, hospitals to treat them and a nation they can call home.
