Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said a Riyadh agreement on ending a power struggle in the south of Yemen is “a great step towards resolving the Yemeni crisis.” “I have followed with great pleasure the signing of the deal between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) under the generous auspices of King Salman and attendance of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” El-Sisi posted on Twitter. El-Sisi said the signed deal strengthens the unity of Yemen, and consolidates stability and peace in the region. Earlier, Egypt's foreign ministry had hailed the agreement, describing it as an important step towards a comprehensive political resolution to the nearly five-year war. The foreign ministry welcomed the signing of the deal, describing it as one which aims to achieve peace, security, and stability in the country while guaranteeing the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and the alleviation of the suffering of the Yemeni people. On Tuesday, the Riyadh-backed Yemeni government and southern separatists signed an agreement to end a power conflict in the south of the country. The Riyadh Agreement sets out the principles governing the relationship between the two sides and the measures they are expected to take in the forthcoming period under the supervision of the Arab Coalition. Per the agreement, the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) will join a new cabinet along with other southerners, with all armed forces to be placed under government control. The STC, which is a part of the Saudi-led alliance fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, had conflicted with Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on power in the south.
