Riyadh (South24 Center)

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council continues to hold its meetings in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, focusing on the economic file and financial and administrative reforms in Yemen amid a deepening fiscal and service crisis and escalating security challenges.

According to statements published by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the Council discussed, in two separate meetings held on October 26 and 28, reports presented by the government and the Central Bank regarding the 2025 state budget position.

The statement noted that the meetings addressed the progress in implementing economic and monetary reforms and the measures taken to enhance the efficiency of public resource management, control spending, and improve essential services, in light of the continued suspension of oil exports and the impact of Houthi attacks on maritime shipping.

These meetings come after months of inactivity and internal tensions within the Council during September, before it recently regained momentum through a series of intensive sessions in Riyadh.

According to the agency, the Council approved the preparation of a state budget with defined spending limits and funding sources, obligating all authorities and institutions to deposit their revenues into the public treasury in accordance with the law.

The Council also renewed its appreciation for the recent Saudi support worth $367 million through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program, which includes assistance for the general budget, fuel for power generation, and operating costs for Aden General Hospital, which Saudi Arabia fully rehabilitated.

On the security front, the Council praised the readiness of the armed and security forces in combating terrorism and intercepting weapons and drug shipments smuggled from Iran to Houthi-controlled areas.

The Council further welcomed the decision of several international organizations to relocate their headquarters to the interim capital, Aden — a move that followed widespread violations committed by the Houthis against UN staff in Sana’a.

The Yemeni government has been facing an unprecedented financial crisis for months due to the continued halt of oil exports in southern Yemen since October 2022, when the Houthis attacked ports in Shabwa and Hadramout.

The crisis recently peaked with the suspension of public sector salaries for four consecutive months, before the payment of one month’s salary was made during the current month of October.