Cairo: Preparations have been finalised for expediting the implementation of an agreement signed last year between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), an official source in the Saudi-led Arab alliance said Thursday.
In November last year, the Yemeni government and the STC signed the Saudi-brokered pact that ended a months-long feud between both sides to refocus efforts on fighting Al Houthi militia.
The power-sharing deal provides for forming a 24-strong government equally composed from Yemen’s southern and northern provinces, excluding Al Houthis.
The Yemeni sides have reached a consensus on forming a 24-member government including STC and other Yemeni political factions, the source said Thursday.
The source also cited completion of military and security plans to implement the security aspect of the deal, officially dubbed the Riyadh Agreement.
Temporary capital
Starting from today, the coalition military observers will monitor separation of military forces in the Yemeni province of Abyan and moving them to frontlines and to outside the temporary capital Aden, the source added, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.
“The alliance’s joint force command will continue to support security sources to undertake their essential tasks in preserving security and stability and fighting terrorist organisations,” the source said.
The new Yemeni government will be announced upon the full implementation of the military aspect of the deal within a week, according to the source.
The STC is part of the Arab alliance co-led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia fighting Iran-aligned Al Houthi rebels in Yemen.
