Saudi Arabia gives green light to Yemen secession, reveals its longstanding ambitions
RIYADH, Jan. 19 (YPA) – The true nature of Saudi Arabia’s project aimed at fragmenting Yemen became evident on Monday, as Riyadh hosted what it termed a “Southern Consultative Meeting,” held in the Saudi capital under the supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Seen as the first official acknowledgment of a Saudi green light for a secession project, Abu Zaraa al-Muharrami, a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, said during the opening session of the meeting that the dialogue represented “a safe and guaranteed path to restoring the southern state,” a clear signal of Riyadh backing a political strategy to partition Yemen.
Observers highlighted significant symbolic signals in the venue, with the southern separatist flag positioned alongside the Saudi flag on the main banner. Analysts said the arrangement indicated a shift in Riyadh’s public stance on Yemen’s unity, which the Saudi-led coalition has previously invoked to legitimize its intervention.
They said that by limiting the conference to selected factions and excluding other Yemeni political groups, Saudi Arabia appears to be pursuing a “tailored secession” aligned with its strategic interests, following efforts to sideline UAE-backed southern factions in favor of a Saudi project.
A source familiar with the matter said recent Saudi military and political moves against certain southern groups were not intended to safeguard Yemeni sovereignty, but rather to consolidate Riyadh’s influence over the eastern provinces of Hadramawt and Mahra.
According to the source, Saudi Arabia views the two provinces as a “red line” because of their significant oil and gas reserves and its strategic aim of establishing a direct route to the Arabian Sea through Yemen, avoiding the Strait of Hormuz. The source said the kingdom is pursuing this goal by undermining the central government and backing divided and vulnerable southern groups.
The developments highlight that Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition in Yemen under the banner of “legitimacy” for years, plays a central role in fragmentation efforts, relying on local actors to pursue a strategy seen by critics as intended to divide the country and plunder its strategic resources.
@E.Y.M