🇾🇪 Yemen’s New Government Sworn In — But Why Did It Happen In Saudi Arabia?
On February 9th, Prime Minister Ahmed al-Zandani led over 30 cabinet ministers in taking their constitutional oath at the Yemeni embassy in Riyadh — and that location tells you everything you need to know about the new power dynamics shaping Yemen’s future.
This is Yemen’s largest cabinet in modern history. For the first time since 2019, three women hold senior government positions. Al-Zandani himself holds a triple role: Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, AND Yemen’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. That’s not a coincidence — that’s a signal.
🔍 HERE’S THE REAL STORY:
This new unified Southern Yemeni government is the direct result of a dramatic behind-the-scenes power struggle between two Gulf heavyweights — Saudi Arabia and the UAE — playing out on Yemeni soil.
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) made a bold move, briefly seizing Yemen’s oil-rich eastern provinces of Al-Mahra and Hadramout from the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). Saudi Arabia’s response? It put its foot down. It demanded the UAE step back entirely. And the UAE — not wanting conflict with its larger, more powerful neighbor — complied.
With no state backer left standing behind them, the STC folded. Saudi Arabia’s faction now holds full control of South Yemen.
🇮🇷 WHAT ABOUT THE HOUTHIS?
The Houthis — Iran-aligned and in control of North Yemen including the capital Sana’a — watched this entire drama unfold from the sidelines. But the popcorn moment is over. South Yemen is now unified under the PLC. The question on everyone’s mind: will the South push into the North?
Analytically, this seems unlikely. Saudi Arabia’s priority right now is regional stability, not a new military campaign. Riyadh has even been lobbying Washington to de-escalate tensions with Iran. Starting a fresh conflict in the North goes against everything Saudi Arabia has been working toward diplomatically.
⚖️ THE BOTTOM LINE:
The UAE’s influence in Yemen is effectively finished. Saudi Arabia has consolidated control in the South. And for now, the region is tilting — cautiously — toward a fragile peace. But in Yemen, nothing is ever truly settled.
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