Afrah al-Zoba takes the oath of office as Yemen's first female foreign minister in history

Al-Alemi: We bet on a more present and effective diplomacy in defending the state’s interests

Dr. Afrah Al-Zoba took the constitutional oath today, Wednesday, before Rashad Al-Alemi, Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, upon her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, becoming the first Yemeni woman to hold this position in Yemen’s history.

The Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported that Al-Alemi congratulated Minister Al-Zoba on securing confidence as the first woman to head the Foreign Affairs portfolio in Yemen’s history, expressing his hope that her appointment marks the beginning of a new phase for Yemeni diplomacy, one that is more present and effective in defending the state’s interests and enhancing its regional and international standing.

He stressed that there would be no tolerance for the Iran-backed Houthi militia to fill any potential vacuum, or to continue distorting facts and dismantling its misleading narrative before the international community, as it is the true culprit behind the suffering of the Yemeni people.

He added that the Iranian regime continues to employ armed militias to destabilize the region, threaten neighboring countries, target waterways and economic facilities, and undermine peace prospects. He emphasized that recent attacks carried out by its proxies in the region reflect the continuation of this destructive approach, which threatens international peace and security.

Al-Alemi had issued a decree on July 23 appointing Al-Zoba as Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding Shuaib Al-Zindani, who had served as both Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, after Al-Zoba had held the position of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation for several months.