Barran Press
Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi met with US Ambassador Steven Fagin today, discussing support for government reforms and deterring any threats to the state's legal authority.
The meeting, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, reviewed bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the latest developments in Yemen, regional developments, and several issues of mutual interest.
Al-Alimi was briefed by the US ambassador on development and humanitarian support programs provided by the United States and its international agencies, including the rehabilitation of the Yemeni Coast Guard, and efforts to combat terrorism, smuggling, and organized crime.
Saba reported that the President of the Presidential Leadership Council presented the ambassador with an update on domestic developments, including the economic and administrative reforms led by the council and the government, and the efforts of brothers and friends to launch a comprehensive political process based on nationally, regionally, and internationally agreed-upon references.
Al-Alimi stressed the importance of the donor community fulfilling its commitments to the humanitarian response plan through the Central Bank of Yemen, accelerating the procedures for relocating the headquarters of international organizations and their local partners to the temporary capital of Aden, and strictly adhering to the legal authority of the state, a member of the United Nations.
He emphasized the importance of supporting government reforms, its efforts to deter any threat to the state's legal authority, enforce its control over the entire national territory, secure international shipping lanes, and protect vital national facilities for the Yemeni people.
Yemen faces a severe currency crisis, with the local currency, the rial, hitting record lows against foreign currencies in Aden and areas controlled by the Yemeni government. The Yemeni economy as a whole faces significant challenges due to the currency split imposed by the Houthi group, which is internationally listed as a terrorist organization. The situation has been further exacerbated by the group's attacks on oil export ports in October 2023, preventing the internationally recognized Yemeni government from exporting oil.
Al-Alimi's meeting with the US ambassador coincides with regional and international efforts to push for the signing of a roadmap to end the nine-year war. However, there are Yemeni concerns that this roadmap does not meet the aspirations of Yemenis for lasting and comprehensive peace.
In December 2023, the United Nations announced that Yemeni parties had reached understandings to commit to a set of measures, including implementing a ceasefire across Yemen, taking steps to improve living conditions in Yemen, and engaging in preparations to resume a comprehensive political process under the auspices of the United Nations.
The roadmap and peace efforts in Yemen have been stalled by attacks by the Houthi group, internationally listed as a terrorist organization, against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023.