On Friday, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, engaged in a significant phone conversation with Yemen’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Afrah Al-Zouba. This discussion primarily revolved around enhancing bilateral relations and addressing the current situation in Yemen, which has been fraught with challenges in recent years.
During their dialogue, both ministers explored avenues to fortify cooperation between Morocco and Yemen while also seeking to activate existing frameworks for collaboration. They exchanged insights regarding recent developments in Yemen, particularly focusing on the escalating tensions attributed to the Houthi militia along the western coast and in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Al-Zouba emphasized Yemen's sovereign duty to safeguard its citizens and secure its coastal areas, ports, and territorial waters, as reported by Yemen's official news agency, Saba.
In her remarks, Al-Zouba expressed gratitude for Morocco’s unwavering support for Yemen’s constitutional legitimacy and its commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the nation. She highlighted Morocco’s proactive participation in the Saudi-led coalition aimed at backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government since the Houthi's takeover of state institutions in 2014. Furthermore, she acknowledged Morocco's ongoing support for the country’s state institutions and its humanitarian efforts, including educational scholarships for Yemeni students, indicating a desire to expand cooperative initiatives between the two nations.
In response, Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s steadfast support for Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and its legitimate government, reiterating Morocco’s dedication to Yemen’s unity and sovereignty. He articulated Morocco's commitment to standing alongside Yemen in its quest to protect its security and sovereignty against prevailing threats. Bourita also underscored the importance of bolstering Yemen’s state institutions and fostering security and stability in Yemen and the surrounding region.
Concluding their conversation, Bourita extended an invitation to Al-Zouba to visit Morocco, aiming to further facilitate consultations and coordination to enhance bilateral relations. Yemen has endured prolonged political and security instability since the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. This conflict has not only drawn regional involvement, particularly from Saudi Arabia, which has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2015, but has also affected security dynamics around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, pivotal maritime routes connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
