UK welcomes al-Alimi’s call for dialogue on southern Yemen

Britain said on Sunday it welcomed calls by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi for dialogue to address issues in southern Yemen.

“The UK welcomes calls by Yemen’s President for a dialogue addressing issues in the south of the country,” Britain’s minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, wrote on X.

Falconer added that London also welcomed Saudi Arabia’s offer to host a conference, as well as what he described as the United Arab Emirates’ “calls for de-escalation.”

“A swift diplomatic resolution will best serve the Yemeni people,” he said.

Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it would host talks in Riyadh at al-Alimi’s request, calling on all factions to participate in developing a “comprehensive vision” to meet the aspirations of Yemenis in the south.

The initiative has drawn broad regional and international support, including backing from the Southern Transitional Council.