President of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, on Monday, July 29, 2024, urged local authorities in Hadhramaut province (southeast Yemen) to continue broad partnerships with all political and social forces during his second visit to the region since his appointment. He emphasized that "positive differences and diverse opinions are a positive input for correcting work paths, activating oversight, and strengthening the rule of law."

The statement came during a meeting with Council members Abdullah Al-Alimi and Othman Mejalli, which included Hadhramaut Governor Mabkhout bin Maadi, local authority leaders, and members of the province's executive office, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.

Al-Alimi highlighted that security and stability are key drivers for attracting investors, stating that "Hadhramaut, with its dedicated people, must make the private sector the true engine of transformation towards comprehensive development."

The meeting, which discussed service, livelihood, and development issues in Hadhramaut, saw the Presidential Council President commend the local authority and executive office directors for their efforts in overcoming existing challenges. He noted the "withdrawal of oil facilities from export due to attacks launched by the Houthi militia, internationally classified as a terrorist organization, which resulted in the loss of approximately 70% of the state's public resources."

He simultaneously praised the people of Hadhramaut "for their interaction and support for the local authority, as a model community for coexistence, respect for the system, and the rule of law."

Al-Alimi acknowledged the efforts of the Council and the government "to overcome the consequences of intertwined challenges and transform them into promising opportunities for self-reliance, making the most of the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the donor community."

He pointed to "generous development and humanitarian interventions in Hadhramaut province from countries of the coalition supporting legitimacy, alongside service projects supported by the government and the local authority despite the financial crisis created by the Houthis."

He directed the absorption of all proposals, including the transformation of the partnership matrix between the government and the local authority in Hadhramaut province into a long-term action plan under the direct supervision of the Presidential Leadership Council.

According to the official agency, Council member Abdullah Al-Alimi spoke about the importance of state leadership visits to Hadhramaut province, which deserves all attention, considering it has "presented a model for stability, coexistence, openness, and preserving state institutions."

Al-Alimi emphasized the importance of focusing on priorities for providing services to citizens and strengthening state institutions, urging the government and the local authority to work towards monitoring and implementing the matrix of service and general issues for the province.

Meanwhile, Othman Mejalli highlighted the place Hadhramaut province has etched in national memory, stating it has become "a safe haven for thousands of displaced people during the ongoing confrontation with the internationally classified Houthi militia and its destructive project."

During the meeting, local, military, and security authorities in Hadhramaut briefed the Presidential Council President and Council members on the general situation in the province, the local authority's efforts in various aspects, and the support needed to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of citizens, primarily finding fundamental solutions for the electricity sector and essential services.

On Saturday, July 27, Rashad Al-Alimi arrived in Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut province, for his second visit since assuming the presidency of the Presidential Council in Yemen in April 2022. He previously visited on June 25, 2023.

Al-Alimi's visit to Hadhramaut comes as the province "faces intertwined financial and developmental challenges since the terrorist attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias on oil facilities, export ports, maritime cargo ships, and international shipping routes."

Upon arrival, Rashad Al-Alimi affirmed the "Council and the government's understanding of the financial situation in Hadhramaut province (southeast Yemen) and the participation of the local authority in the province in successes and failures, not running away from them."