Aden (South24) 

On Tuesday, the fourth UN envoy to Yemen and the former head of the European Union mission, the Swedish Hans Grundberg, arrived in the capital Aden marking his first visit since he officially assumed his duties on September the 5th.

The STC welcomed Grundberg's arrival, stressing its support for "peace efforts." The STC, through its official spokesperson Ali Al-Kathiri, called on "all parties" to "positively cooperate with Grundberg's efforts to end the war."

Grundberg met with the STC President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi at the STC's headquarters in Al-Tawahi.

The STC's official website reported that Al-Zubaidi expressed the STC's keenness “to support government work to improve conditions,” and that his participation in the government“ aims to secure the interests of the people.”

Al-Zubaidi said, "The Riyadh Agreement represents an important station on the path to laying the foundations for the political process and establishing peace in South and Yemen, and in order to achieve this in a practical way, it is necessary to form a joint negotiating delegation for the comprehensive political process."

Al-Zubaidi stressed that the STC's participation in the peace process is essential.

According to the STC's official website, Grundberg stressed "the necessity of the STC to participate in the comprehensive political process through the agreed arrangements, stressing the importance of forming the joint negotiating delegation."

Grundberg met the Prime Minister of the parity government in Aden, Maeen Abdulmalik, at the Maashiq Palace in Crater.

The Prime Minister of the parity government Maeen Abdulmalik receives Grundberg at the government headquarters in Maashiq Palace, Aden, October 5, 2021 (official)

Grundberg also met with the governor of Aden Ahmed Lamles, at the local authority bureau and discussed with him the necessity of "restoring the navigation and commercial activity of the port of Aden to its normal state to boost the economy."

Aden governor Ahmed Lamlas meets Grundberg at the local authority bureau, October 5, 2021 (official)

This visit comes after a wide international movement recently, stressing in its entirety the support of Grundberg's efforts to reach a solution to the Yemeni crisis, and the need for "all parties" to deal with him directly and without preconditions.

The US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, had visited, at the end of September, Riyadh, and met the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. According to Saudi Media, the two men had a "detailed discussion on the conflict in Yemen" and emphasized "support for Grundberg's efforts."

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, in Riyadh, on Sunday. The Saudi minister said during the press conference with Borrell that Riyadh has a "very strong dialogue" with America regarding the ceasefire in Yemen.

As part of his tour in the Gulf, Borrell met Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi at his residence in Riyadh.

A joint statement issued by the Quad (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, USA, UK), on September 16, stressed support for Grundberg's efforts, stressing "concerns" about the economic crisis in Yemen and the depreciation of the local currency.

On the 17th of the same month, a joint US-Russian-Chinese-British-French statement called on the Yemeni parties to "deal with Grundberg without preconditions," stressing support the UN envoy's efforts "to find an end to the conflict."

Grundberg had started in mid-September a tour of the region, during which he met Saudi officials in Riyadh. He also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Badr Al-Busaidi, and the head of the Houthi negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdulsalam, at the end of the tour in Muscat.

Most likely, Grundberg's list during his visit will include a number of different figures and parties, including the leaders of the Houthi group that controls Sanaa and most of North Yemen.

It should be noted that this visit comes after days of violent clashes in the city of Crater, in the Sira district of Aden, which includes the headquarters of the Yemeni government and the Central Bank, between the Southern security forces and armed outlaws, led by Imam Al-Silwi.

The STC Presidency said that the Crater events "come within a political scheme to obstruct the visit of the UN envoy to Aden." Senior sources confirmed to "South24" the arrival of the leader of the armed groups, Imam Al-Silwi, today, Tuesday, to the city of Shuqrah in Abyan, after he was smuggled by sea from Maashiq Palace in Aden. 

South24 Center for News and Studies 

Photo: STC President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi receives Hans Grundberg, October 5, 2021 (official)