Egypt Welcomes Yemeni Cabinet Reshuffle

Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed Egypt’s welcome to the Yemeni announcement of a Cabinet reshuffle, including political competencies in implementation of the provisions of the Riyadh Agreement.

This came after the completion of the arrangements for the military part of Riyadh Agreement.

Hafez added that this is an important step ahead of a comprehensive political settlement of the Yemeni crisis.

In a statement on Saturday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman appreciated the efforts of Saudi Arabia in sponsoring the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement and continuing to support efforts for a political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

Hafez pointed out that Egypt also praises the keenness of the Yemeni parties, represented by the legitimate Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council, to uphold the interest of Yemen and achieve aspirations of its people towards ending the protracted crisis in the country. It is an effort to restore security, stability and achieve the desired development.

Notably, Yemen's embattled president, in exile in Saudi Arabia, announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday in a major step toward closing a dangerous rift between his internationally recognized government and southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates.

President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's decree said the incumbent prime minister, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, would keep his job while 24 ministerial posts would have almost equal representation of both northerners and southerners, according to the country's state-run SABA news agency.