Yemen National Dialogue Set to Begin in March

Photo Credit: FAHAD SHADEED / REUTERS

Yemen’s president, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, announced Wednesday that the long-awaited national dialogue conference will open on March 18.  Plagued by a southern separatist movement and disagreement among opposition parties concerning participation, the dialogue aims to build a framework for writing a new constitution and address several key challenges facing the country’s transition, including national reconciliation.  The U.S. State Department urged President Hadi and Yemeni political parties “ to move expeditiously toward an inclusive, transparent, and constructive Dialogue.”  State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland added, “Full participation by all segments of Yemeni society – including [southern separatists, Houthi rebels], women, civil society organizations, youth, rural populations, and others – is essential to address issues fundamental to Yemen’s future.”

Amid the political turmoil facing the Tunisian government following the assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaid Wednesday morning, questions over the legality of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali‘s call to dissolve the cabinet and form a new technocratic government have arisen.  Jebali asserts that such a government would allow for swifter reforms within government, although his ruling Ennahda Party has said he has no legal right to do so.  Amine Mahfoudh, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Sousse, believes that for Jebali’s plan to be legally acceptable, he must first resign and then be charged with forming a new government by the country’s president. Presidential spokesperson Adnene Manser said Thursday, “The president has not received the resignation of the prime minister nor the details of the cabinet of technocrats announced by the prime minister,” adding, “The presidency of the republic wishes to say that all changes to the ruling power must take place within the framework of the law represented by the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), which remains the primary source of power.”