Hadramout Unites for Talks with Saudi-Hosted Conference

Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout has formed a unified political body to represent it in upcoming talks, hosted by Saudi Arabia. The Supreme Hadrami Coordination Council was established at a conference attended by over 1,000 figures from the province, including academics, civil society representatives, and members of various social and political groups.

The council is aimed at giving Hadramout a unified voice in the anticipated dialogue among southern Yemeni political forces. Governor Salem Ahmed Al-Khanbashi said that the new body would seek to unify the province's political position and ensure it had a meaningful role in any future settlement in Yemen.

Hadramout has long complained about being marginalized and not receiving adequate representation in national decision making, despite being Yemen's largest province and richest in oil. The governor called for closer ties between Hadramout and Saudi Arabia, saying that the relationship between the two sides 'transcends mere neighborly considerations and immediate interests'.

The establishment of the council follows months of upheaval in southern Yemen, including a confrontation between government forces and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in December. The STC had amassed troops in coastal areas of Hadramout and was accused of attempting to destabilize Aden.