President of Leadership Council Address on the 35th National Day of Yemen – May 22

  Aden

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

To the great people of Yemen, at home and abroad,

To the valiant heroes of our armed and security forces in the fields of honor and dignity,

To the steadfast women of our nation, symbols of sacrifice and giving,

I greet you all with the greetings of the Republic and of freedom on the 35th anniversary of the National Day, May 22—a day that marked the culmination of a greatstruggle which began with the flames of the glorious September Revolution, was carried forward by the eternal October Uprising, and culminated in the historic birth of the Republic of Yemen.

The spirit of the South part of Yemen was pioneering in the dream of unity—through its origins, its thought, and its struggle. The anthem was Southern, the flag was Southern, and the initiative was distinctly Southern, in a historic moment that reflected sincerity of intention and nobility of purpose.

As we recall this honorable precedence, we also fully understand today the shifts in public sentiment under the weight of past injustices, marginalization, and excessive centralization.

Yet the South continues to prove that it has never been a marginal party in the national equation. Rather, it remains a beacon of enlightenment, a cradle of civil governance, and a steadfast shield. It has been a refuge for millions of our displaced citizens fleeing the horrors of Houthi tyranny—finding in Aden and other southern governorates safe haven and a dignified life.

Just as Aden was once the capital of the anti-colonial and anti-imamate movements, today it reaffirms its role as a launchpad to repel the new imamate project and its backers, in defense of the republican system and its enduring principles.

Dear fellow citizens,

Celebrating this glorious day is a tribute to all who sacrificed for the vision of a strong state. It is also a renewed acknowledgment of past missteps and a firm commitment to correct the course.

Accordingly, we reiterate that the Southern Cause remains central to any just political settlement. Its resolution cannot come through superficial agreements, but rather through full recognition, with robust guarantees enabling Southerners to shape their future and determine their political, economic, and cultural standing—fostering genuine partnership in power and wealth, in line with national, regional, and international frameworks.

The bitter experiences—especially following the coup by the Houthi militias supported by the Iranian regime—have confirmed that building a modern Yemen requires three key pillars: safeguarding the republican system, entrenching pluralism, and establishing a balanced unity based on justice and equality, not dominance or exclusion.

These three pillars reflect the essence of our people’s historical struggle. They are the safeguard of the present and the foundation for a just state—one that ensures equal opportunities for all citizens, protects their national and cultural identity, and enables them to freely determine their future. A state that respects good neighborliness, honors treaties and international law, and actively participates in its Gulf and Arab environment.

Dear citizens,

The national unity we strive for today is not a mere slogan, but a practical reality to be embodied in fair institutions, independent authorities, and a civil state governed by rule of law and equal opportunity. It stands in stark contrast to the sectarian, oppressive, and racist agenda of the imamate project and its culture of death and hatred.

We have already embarked on serious steps to correct the trajectory—beginning with strengthening institutional independence, reactivating law enforcement, addressing the aftermath of the 1994 civil war, and expanding financial and administrative decentralization, in accordance with the Constitution and the transitional roadmap.

We do not speak today of promises, but of tangible actions and open options, managed with wisdom and responsibility—away from reactionary approaches—preserving national unity and reaffirming the state as a genuine guarantor of rights and freedoms.

To our great people,

As we mark this anniversary amid your painful hardships, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to your decisive battle to uproot the root cause of your suffering—the Houthi-imamate project. This movement poses an existential threat to our republican system, national security, social fabric, Arab identity, and regional and international interests.

This terrorist group, which falsely invokes unity and sovereignty, is the one that blocks roads, besieges cities, drains our currency, reinstates class discrimination, and imposes a de facto division through violence, looting, and extortion. Its reckless actions invite foreign intervention and export chaos in service of Iran’s expansionist agenda.

O proud people of Yemen,

Alongside my fellow members of the Presidential Leadership Council, I have worked in recent years to draw inspiration from the spirit of national unity and implement it into action—by fostering consensus, supporting partnerships, and empowering local governance, all while emphasizing the centrality of the Southern Cause.

Despite immense challenges and a resource crisis worsened by Houthi attacks on oil ports and shipping, we have never abandoned our responsibilities. We have not repressed peaceful protests, but viewed your voices—especially the inspiring demonstrations led by women in Aden and other regions—as a sincere catalyst to accelerate our efforts and alleviate suffering, in partnership with our brothers in the Coalition to Support Legitimacy and our international partners.

We reaffirm our commitment to continue reforms in electricity, energy, and essential services—building on what has been achieved in recent years with generous support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who have consistently stood by our people and their legitimate leadership.

Together with the Prime Minister and the government, we will prioritize upcoming needs, focusing on economic and service requirements that will, God willing, see significant improvement in the coming days.

We also direct the government and local authorities to take all necessary measures to deter those who act outside the law, to strengthen judicial mechanisms, and to ensure swift justice for the wronged.

Here, we recall the notable improvements in the judiciary, where over 150 final verdicts were issued in serious criminal cases—after nearly a decade of delay in enforcing such rulings.

This progress comes alongside increasing readiness of our armed and security forces, and all military formations, to decisively confront the threat—should the Houthi militias continue to defy the people’s will, international resolutions, and peace efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed.

Dear citizens,

This is the national unity we believe in today:

Unity for the state—not for the militia.

Unity for the Republic—not for the imamate.

Unity for citizenship, partnership, and diversity—not domination and exclusion.

Let us make this anniversary an occasion for creative initiatives, renewed commitment, and a unified media discourse for all legitimate components—rising to meet the grave threat that looms over us all without exception.

Mercy and eternal glory to our righteous martyrs,

Speedy recovery to our heroic wounded,

Freedom to our detainees and abductees,

Long live the Republic of Yemen—a civil, just, and ever-renewing state.

May Allah’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you