Yemen appoints first ambassador to Russia in 6 years

Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi yesterday appointed a new ambassador to Moscow, a position that has been vacant for more than six years.

Image of Ahmed Salem Al-Wahishi, Yemeni ambassador to Moscow [YouTube]

According to the agency, Hadi asked the new ambassador to “explain and elaborate on the challenges facing the country in light of the repercussions of Houthi and Saleh coup,” referring to the ongoing war in Yemen between his forces and militias loyal to the previous President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The agency pointed out also that “Russia supported Yemen and its constitutional legitimacy in various international forums.”

Hadi urged Al-Wahishi to “strengthen relations between the two countries and reactivate them at various levels,” according to the agency.

Mohammed Salih Al-Hilali was the last Yemeni ambassador to Moscow between 2008 and 2011. The position has remained vacant as a result of the political crisis in Yemen.

Late last year, Hadi made appointments in more than ten embassies, but a number of countries, including Russia, did not approve the appointments.