Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Yemen’s newly formed government was officially sworn in on Monday before Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, completing a significant political transition amid ongoing efforts to stabilise the war-torn country.
According to Yemen’s state news agency Saba, Prime Minister Shaya Al-Zandani and the full cabinet took the constitutional oath of office in a formal ceremony attended by senior council members and other dignitaries. The event followed weeks of intensive consultations in Riyadh and signals a renewed push toward governance continuity under the Presidential Leadership Council.
The new administration, announced last Friday by the Presidential Leadership Council, comprises 34 ministers and is headed by Prime Minister Zandani, who also assumes the Foreign Affairs portfolio. The cabinet retains several experienced figures from the previous government, including:
Moammar Al-Eryani – Minister of Information
Nayef Al-Bakri – Minister of Youth and Sports
Salem Al-Soqatri – Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries
Ibrahim Haidan – Minister of Interior
Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi – Minister of Water and Environment
Mohammed Al-Ashwal – Minister of Industry and Trade
Qassem Buhaibeh – Minister of Public Health and Population
Badr Al-Aradha – Minister of Justice
A major highlight of the new lineup is the inclusion of three women in ministerial positions—a notable step forward for gender representation in Yemeni governance. This marks the first time a Yemeni government has appointed a woman to the critical Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation:
Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zouba – Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Judge Ishraq Fadl Al-Maqtari – Minister of Legal Affairs
Ahd Mohammed Salem Jaasous – Minister of State for Women’s Affairs
The previous cabinet had drawn criticism both domestically and internationally for the complete absence of women in ministerial roles. The US Embassy in Yemen had publicly stated on January 28 that it looked forward to a new government that included meaningful female representation, underscoring the international community’s emphasis on gender inclusion in Yemen’s political transition.
The formation process began on January 16, when the Presidential Leadership Council accepted the resignation of former Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Breik and appointed Shaya Al-Zandani as his successor. Zandani, a seasoned political figure, was tasked with forming a government capable of addressing Yemen’s multifaceted crises while maintaining unity among the anti-Houthi coalition.
The swearing-in ceremony comes at a pivotal moment for Yemen. The country remains deeply divided, with the Houthi movement controlling much of the north and west—including the capital Sanaa—while the Presidential Leadership Council and its allied forces hold sway over Aden, Marib, Hadramout, and other southern and eastern regions. Saudi Arabia, which hosts the council and much of the internationally recognised government, continues to play a central mediating and supporting role.
Analysts view the new cabinet as an attempt to project continuity, competence, and inclusivity while addressing longstanding calls for broader representation. The inclusion of women in high-profile portfolios is seen as a direct response to domestic advocacy and international pressure to advance gender equity in governance.
Prime Minister Zandani and his team now face the formidable challenge of delivering effective administration in a fragmented state, securing humanitarian access, advancing economic recovery, and supporting UN-led peace efforts amid persistent violence, economic collapse, and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The swearing-in was widely covered by Yemeni and regional media, with many observers describing it as a pragmatic step toward stabilising the internationally recognised government’s operations from exile in Riyadh.
As the new administration begins its work, attention will focus on whether it can translate political realignment into tangible improvements in governance, service delivery, and progress toward a negotiated end to Yemen’s decade-long conflict.
