Dimensions of “Presidential Leadership Council” split amid escalating confrontations in eastern Yemen

SANAA, Dec. 31 (YPA) – Half of the members of the “Presidential Leadership Council” loyal to the Saudi-led coalition on Tuesday moved quickly to issue a joint statement opposing measures announced by the Council’s President, Rashad Al-Alimi, which sought to remove the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Yemeni territory.

The Leadership Council members Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, Tariq Saleh, Abdulrahman al-Mahrami, and Faraj al-Bahsani considered Al-Alimi’s decisions a violation of the Power Transfer Declaration, which mandates that the council reach decisions collectively or by a majority. Consequently, they argued that his actions lack constitutional basis.

The statement held Al-Alimi responsible for the repercussions of his decision to exclude the UAE from the coalition and demand the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen.

Observers view this statement as a new chapter in the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the UAE within coalition-controlled areas in southern and eastern Yemen. The statement appears to signal a new phase in the split of international recognition between the four members aligned with the UAE and the four members aligned with Saudi Arabia.

Political analysts believe the coalition-appointed Leadership Council lost its internal balance when members Abu Zara’a al-Mahrami and Faraj al-Bahsani joined the pro-UAE Southern Transitional Council (STC) in May 2023. At that time, Riyadh took no precautionary steps to prevent pro-UAE forces from dominating decision-making within coalition-held regions.

Relying on Saudi support, the Leadership Council’s President, Rashad Al-Alimi, took major escalatory steps, issuing decrees that included the cancellation of the mutual defense agreement with the UAE, the declaration of a 90-day national state of emergency, and an official demand for the withdrawal of Emirati forces from Yemen within 24 hours.

This escalation resulted in a structural split within the eight-member council (4 vs 4). The four pro-UAE members issued a joint statement rejecting Al-Alimi’s decisions as “unilateral and illegal,” warning that they undermine the “Arab coalition.” Conversely, the pro-Saudi members led by Al-Alimi emphasized that “Yemen’s security is inseparable from Riyadh’s security.”

The rift among the Presidential Council members has led to a paralysis in consensus-based decision-making. Observers fear the political conflict may transition into field confrontations between Saudi-backed forces (Dera Al-Watan) and UAE-backed forces (the STC). This divergence has already resulted in diplomatic tension and an exchange of denunciations, reflecting a deep crisis at the heart of the coalition.

Recent positions suggest that the situation in the Hadramout and Mahra governorates has moved beyond diplomatic understandings to contain the explosive standoff between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. It appears that military force has become the primary option for the competing powers in eastern Yemen.

The conflict has revealed fundamental differences between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia has described the UAE’s moves as “dangerous” and a threat to its national security, which could lead to a reshuffling of Gulf alliances. In response, the UAE signaled a voluntary withdrawal of its forces while maintaining support for the STC, a move that strengthens southern secessionist trends and weakens Al-Alimi’s role as a mediator.

Ultimately, this split represents a strategic shift that could redraw the map of Yemen, carrying the risk of a broader regional escalation.

YPA