Riyadh Agreement divides Yemenis in Sanaa
Civilians in Sanaa feel frustrated at the Riyadh Agreement recently signed between the main partners of the Saudi-led coalition that will unite them against the Houthis.
SANAA, Yemen — When Yemen's internationally recognized government and the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) signed a power-sharing deal — which is known as the Riyadh Agreement — on Nov. 5 to end a power struggle in the south, residents of Sanaa expressed frustration at the agreement.
“This agreement is born dead. It doesn't help us nor harm us in Sanaa,” said Naif Sakkaf, as he piled Arabic newspapers in his newsstand in Sanaa. He hopes it will not last and collapse before long.
Sakkaf, who has been working at the newsstand near Sanaa University for two years, explained his position, saying, “Saudi Arabia isn't qualified to sponsor Yemeni deals,” before he went even further to accuse the kingdom of being “Yemen’s only enemy throughout history.”
Sakkaf sees the Riyadh Agreement as serving the interests of southern separatists, which will lead to civil war in the south and prolong the conflict.
