President of Leadership Council Chairs Government Meeting

  Aden

President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council, chaired part of a cabinet session today, Sunday, at Al-Ma’ashiq Palace,alongside Council member Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazeer. The meeting attended by Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Buraik focused on the priorities of the current stage and on supporting government efforts to complete comprehensive reforms.

At the start of the meeting, the President congratulated the Yemeni people and the government on the occasion of Independence Day. He expressed hope that the anniversary would return as Yemen achieves its aspirations for security, stability, and peace.

The President stated that the challenges of the current phase require focusing on three main issues. The first is providing salaries, public services, and essential imports. The second is strengthening security. The third is unifying efforts for the “battle of liberation.” He stressed avoiding distractions and side issues.

He affirmed that economic reforms are the main priority today, as they represent the real test of the state and its ability to fulfill its constitutional and legal responsibilities.

“We are here today to advance the implementation of Leadership Council Resolution No. 11. The resolution requires the government to unify all revenues, deposit them into the central bank’s general account, and prohibit any collection outside legal channels or by unauthorized local bodies”, he said.

He emphasized the government’s responsibility to expand and develop revenues, including adjusting the customs exchange rate and submitting the state budget on time.

The President instructed the government to conduct a full inventory of state-owned lands, properties, and leased assets. He directed it to develop a plan to convert these assets into actual resources and to study the creation of a sovereign fund to manage and grow them under international governance standards.

His Excellency underscored the shared responsibility to reform monetary policy and support the independence of the Central Bank. He called for strengthening market oversight, regulating banks, and controlling the activities of exchange companies in coordination with law enforcement agencies.

The President discussed challenges facing humanitarian and relief operations. Recent indicators show that more than 17 million Yemenis need assistance. Reports also mention restrictions affecting the flow of aid and the work of international organizations.

He stressed the need to secure humanitarian operations, remove obstacles facing relief agencies, facilitate their movement, and ensure access permits. He also directed the government to accelerate the establishment of a national relief authority to end overlapping mandates and ensure accountability.

Regarding the security sector, the President praised recent achievements, including the dismantling of terrorist cells linked to the Houthi militias and the seizure of Iranian weapons and drug shipments smuggled to Houthis. 

He stated that progress in economic, financial, administrative, and institutional reforms requires an effective security and judicial system. “No economy can be built under weak security,” he said. “There is no development or investment without an independent judiciary. Security and justice are the shield of any reform process.”, he added.

The President addressed the relationship between the Council and the government and their shared responsibility in implementing Resolution No. 11. He emphasized respecting the independence of the executive authority, preventing unilateral instructions or unofficial communications, maintaining institutional hierarchy, adjusting relationship with governorates and strengthening coordination with them. He affirmed that institutional harmony is not optional but essential for the cohesion of the state.

The President praised the role of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He said their support has preserved the cohesion of the Yemeni state, strengthened its institutions, and helped the government address its priorities and ease the suffering of the people in one of the hardest moments in Yemen’s history. 

He described this support as an investment in Yemen’s stability and in the region’s security. He directed the government to manage this support efficiently and use it to improve public services and strengthen active state institutions.

He reaffirmed that restoring state institutions begins with empowering the armed forces and supporting their role in war and peace. He stressed the need to provide the requirements necessary to maintain their readiness and honor their sacrifices. He instructed the immediate announcement of the establishment of a Wounded Veterans Care Authority.

The President outlined the foreign policy priorities and the need to strengthen diplomatic missions so that they can advocate for the Yemeni people and promote narratives of victory and hope.

He called on the government to align diplomacy with national interests, especially following the designation of the Houthi militia as a foreign terrorist organization and the findings of the UN Panel of Experts report.

He urged the documentation of Houthi violations and grave abuses and the pursuit of the release of detainees. He also called for stopping the summary executions in Houthi-controlled areas and exposing these crimes as a moral and national duty.

In his remarks, the President paid tribute to Yemeni women. He said they have proven to be partners in resilience and in nation-building. He stressed that it is unjust to demand that women bear responsibilities while being excluded from decision-making positions.

He added: “It is neither fair nor logical to hold a meeting of this importance without the presence of Yemeni women. It is unacceptable for the government to remain without a single ministerial portfolio led by a woman. Women represent more than half of the population and possess the experience and competence that make their absence a legal and institutional imbalance that must be corrected.”