PLC VP Al-Aradah: Saudi Arabia Spared Yemen a New Civil War

Sultan Al-Aradah, Vice president of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and Governor of Marib, said Saudi Arabia had spared Yemen from sliding into a new civil war through what he described as its “sincere” stance during the events in Hadramout and Al-Mahra last December.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Aradah said the Yemeni people, with their long history, civilization, and national standing, “cannot remain hostage to a militia,” adding that “peace sometimes comes only through imposing peace.”

He acknowledged that collective leadership models often face major challenges, but stressed that the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council was neither arbitrary nor driven by personal considerations.

Rather, he said, it came after a careful assessment of Yemen’s political, military, and regional complexities. Al-Aradah also underscored the depth of Yemen’s ties with Saudi Arabia, describing them as “a relationship of shared existence and destiny” that goes beyond conventional political relations. He praised Saudi-funded projects in Yemen, saying they have had a tangible impact on the lives of Yemenis across various governorates. An Important German Visit Al-Aradah said the German ambassador’s recent visit to Marib reflected the importance of Yemeni-German relations and Berlin’s commitment to supporting Yemen under difficult circumstances. He noted that Germany has played important roles in humanitarian and development issues, adding that relations between the two countries are deep-rooted and span decades. The visit, he said, offered an important opportunity to gain firsthand insight into conditions in Marib and the challenges facing the governorate. Houthi Involvement in Regional Conflicts Al-Aradah said the Houthis’ involvement in regional conflicts does not serve the interests of the Yemeni people, the region, or the priority of preserving state institutions. “What interest does the Houthi movement have in intervening in issues that have no direct connection to Yemen?” he asked, arguing that such policies have brought further crises and suffering to the country.

Restoring the State After more than a decade of war, Al-Aradah said Yemen cannot achieve genuine stability unless the state restores its authority and institutions. “The Yemeni people, with their history, civilization, and stature, cannot remain hostage to any militia, regardless of its form or nature,” he said. He added that Yemenis would continue working, with the support of their regional and international partners, to restore their state and rebuild its institutions. Marib’s Resilience Al-Aradah said there was no “secret” or “magic formula” behind Marib’s resilience, describing it instead as the result of a deep sense of responsibility at a decisive historical moment.

He said the collapse of state institutions and the violations committed against Yemenis’ lives, dignity, property, and national principles pushed many Yemenis to stand with Marib. He added that many Yemenis rallied behind Marib not only because it became a safe haven, but because it also served as a base for defending the republic and restoring the state. Performance of the Legitimate Government Assessing the performance of the internationally recognized government, Al-Aradah acknowledged that several factors had hindered the state’s progress, though he declined to go into detail. He said domestic and external factors had prevented the achievement of many goals and affected development, the economy, and security. However, he described these obstacles as challenges that could be overcome, adding that the state had already begun to move past some of them.

Peace Efforts

Al-Aradah said peace remains the preferred option, but stressed that it requires parties that genuinely believe in it. “The problem is that we do not have a party that truly believes in peace. The other side sees peace as the end of its project,” he said. He argued that the Houthis do not have a state-building project, a development agenda, or a national vision agreed upon by Yemenis. Instead, he said, they benefit from the continuation of local and regional conflicts. “We want peace, but the question is: with whom?” he asked.

Al-Aradah said one of the main reasons the war continues is that the Houthis believe a real peace settlement would end their political and ideological project. “Sometimes peace only comes through imposing peace, and that is what must happen,” he said. Asked whether he meant a military solution, he replied that history provides many examples of conflicts that ended only through decisive action when negotiations failed and when one side did not genuinely believe in peace. He stressed that endless war is not an acceptable option and that the interests of the Yemeni people must remain above all other considerations.

The Presidential Leadership Council

Speaking about the Presidential Leadership Council, Al-Aradah said preserving the state’s cohesion and continuity under Yemen’s complex circumstances was itself a significant achievement. He said Yemen had faced major challenges that could have led to wider fragmentation and dangerous divisions, but the council managed to withstand many pressures with the support of allies and friends. He said the council is working on several tracks, including unifying military formations, strengthening joint operations, improving coordination among national forces, supporting the government, and preserving state institutions. “The council is also working to improve the economy, consolidate state revenues, support the government in carrying out its duties, and restore the activity of official institutions,” he said.

Al-Aradah acknowledged the suffering of Yemenis, but said the current phase should be assessed in comparison with what might have happened had the state collapsed entirely. “When we look at the alternative, we realize that the other option was chaos, fragmentation, and total collapse,” he said. Internal Challenges Al-Aradah described internal challenges as the most difficult and complex issues faced by the Presidential Leadership Council. He said the council had dealt with serious internal problems since its formation, but many of those issues were not appropriate to raise publicly at the time. He praised PLC Chairman Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi for playing a central role in containing many of those challenges. “He has shown great patience and endured substantial criticism, but we have yet to fully see the results of that patience,” Al-Aradah said.

He noted that collective leadership models are naturally difficult and often face major complications, but said Yemen’s circumstances made this model the most realistic option at the time. The council’s members, he said, represent different forces, military formations, and regions across Yemen. The purpose of bringing them together was to unify political, military, and national efforts to confront the country’s challenges. He stressed that the chairman and members of the council bear a historic responsibility to work as one team and fulfill the goals outlined in the Declaration of the Transfer of Power.

Unifying Military Formations

On efforts to unify military formations, Al-Aradah said important steps had been taken through the Joint Operations Command and military committees that include various military leaders. He said Saudi Arabia had played a pivotal role in this process, not only through political support but also through logistical and military assistance and continuous coordination among different components. The Kingdom, he said, stands behind this project as part of the broader effort to restore the Yemeni state, working directly with various military formations and supporting them financially and logistically. Developments in Hadramout Discussing recent developments in Hadramout, Al-Aradah expressed regret over what happened, saying the governorate did not deserve to be drawn into any form of conflict.

He described Hadramout as a peaceful and secure region that has long contributed positively to Yemen. He said the events resulted from miscalculations at the local level and from inappropriate external interventions and assistance. These developments, he added, pushed Yemen’s leadership to act responsibly to preserve national unity and prevent wider confrontation. Al-Aradah praised Saudi Arabia’s position, describing the Kingdom as a “sincere brother” that stood by Yemen at a sensitive moment and helped prevent further fragmentation. He said that unified stance played a major role in protecting Yemen from a new civil war that could have spread to large parts of the country. Yemen, he noted, is already facing an open war with the Houthis and a severe economic crisis, and opening new fronts of conflict in liberated areas would have posed a serious threat to the country’s future. He added that many Yemenis, including those who disagreed with some decisions at the time, would one day recognize the importance of Saudi Arabia’s role in preventing further division and conflict.

Yemen’s Political Elite

Al-Aradah said the real question facing Yemen’s political elite is not its own future, but its ability to lead the people out of the crisis and restore the state and its institutions. He urged Yemen’s elites to reflect honestly on the events of recent years, saying that much of what Yemen has endured was the result of rivalries, disputes, and conflicts among different elite groups. He said the moral and national duty of the elite is to correct past mistakes by working to restore the state and help Yemen recover.

Yemeni-Saudi Relations

Al-Aradah described Yemeni-Saudi relations as “a relationship of shared existence and destiny” that goes far beyond traditional politics. He said the two countries are bound by history, kinship, faith, shared interests, and a common future. It is therefore natural, he said, for Yemenis and Saudis to work together in confronting common challenges, as the security and interests of both countries are deeply interconnected. Al-Aradah said Saudi Arabia had provided Yemen with significant support over the years, but added that some people focus only on financial and material assistance while overlooking more important aspects of the Kingdom’s role.

In his view, Saudi Arabia’s most important contribution has been the political cover it provided to Yemen’s internationally recognized government from the beginning of the crisis. “Many people, whether politicians or not, may not fully appreciate the importance of this, but it was a fundamental factor in preserving the legitimacy of the Yemeni state,” he said. Without that political support and the accompanying diplomatic efforts, he said, parts of the international community might have dealt with the Houthis as a de facto authority or an alternative to the state. He added that Saudi Arabia stood by Yemen during its most difficult periods, not only politically but also through support for state institutions, the government, and humanitarian relief. “The Kingdom is committed to the restoration of the Yemeni state and its sovereignty—perhaps even more than many Yemenis themselves,” he said.

Saudi Projects in Yemen

Al-Aradah praised Saudi-funded projects in Yemen, saying they have made a tangible difference in the lives of Yemenis across the country. He thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their continued support for Yemen. He highlighted the role of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, both through its direct programs and its support for humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen. He also commended the Masam demining project, noting that the Houthis had planted tens of thousands of landmines that continue to threaten shepherds, farmers, travelers, children, and civilians.

Al-Aradah also praised projects implemented by the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen, led by Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber, saying they have helped improve vital sectors including health, education, water, infrastructure, and local development. Incitement Campaigns Al-Aradah criticized what he described as incitement campaigns and political point-scoring on social media, saying they harm the national cause and disrespect the sacrifices of fighters.

He said some parties try to portray political disagreements as personal hostility among national forces, while the reality is different. He cited as an example an initiative by PLC member Brig. Gen. Tareq Saleh, who donated one billion Yemeni rials to support wounded fighters, saying some attempted to turn the initiative into a source of controversy and incitement.

Al-Aradah said such behavior requires serious review, urging young people and activists to respect themselves, their people, and their national values. “No one will be able to divide us as comrades-in-arms, regardless of political differences or differing viewpoints,” he said. He stressed that the ultimate goal remains the restoration of the Yemeni state and that a shared destiny requires all parties to stand together until that goal is achieved.

Concluding the interview, Al-Aradah delivered a clear message: “No faction, party, tribe, or region can lead Yemen on its own. Yemen belongs to everyone, and it will only rise through the cooperation and solidarity of all its people. That is the future we believe in for this country.”