Shaya al-Zindani

Shaya Zindani
شائع الزنداني
Zindani in 2025
Prime Minister of Yemen
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 February 2026 (2026-02-06)
PresidentRashad al-Alimi
Preceded bySalem Saleh bin Braik
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
In office
27 March 2024 (2024-03-27) – 23 July 2026
PresidentRashad al-Alimi
Prime Minister
Preceded byAhmad Awad bin Mubarak
Succeeded byAfrah al-Zouba
Personal details
Born (1954-09-16) 16 September 1954
Modern day Jahaf District, Dhale Governorate, Yemen
Children4

Shaya Mohsen Zindani[a][1] (born 16 September 1954) is a Yemeni diplomat and statesman who has served as the prime minister of Yemen since 2026. Zindani was the deputy foreign minister of South Yemen prior to unification and served numerous diplomatic posts afterwards, including the role of ambassador to the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Serbia, Albania, San Marino, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. He served as the minister of foreign affairs and expatriates from 2024 to 2026. As foreign minister, he engaged in peace talks with the Houthis in an effort to end the civil war. After being appointed prime minister, he formed a new cabinet, which was praised for including three women.

Early life and education

Zindani was born on 16 September 1954 in modern day Jahaf District of Dhale Governorate in southern Yemen.[2] His family traces its lineage to the northern Arhab region of Sanaa.[3] He attended the University of Aden and graduated with a bachelor's degree in law before studying abroad at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.[4] He received a higher diploma in philosophy, and a doctorate in the philosophy of law,[2] and later an honorary doctorate in Diplomatic Sciences. Zindani was noted for his student activism, serving as president of the General National Union of Yemeni Students in 1974, and the secretary-general of the General Union of Arab Students in 1976.[1]

Diplomatic career

After teaching at the University of Aden 1978 to 1981, Zindani joined the diplomatic corps of South Yemen. He was the minister plenipotentiary and chargé d'affaires at the embassy of South Yemen in Baghdad, Iraq, from 1981 to 1982, before serving as deputy foreign minister of South Yemen from 1986 to 1990.[1] In this position, he was involved in talks with the Yemeni Arab Republic which led to the unification of Yemen in 1990, and headed the Yemeni delegation at a meeting between Arab diplomats on the day of the declaration of unity.[2]

Zindani served as deputy foreign minister in the newly-formed Republic of Yemen from 1990 to 1991. From thereon, he served multiple international posts, including ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the UK from 1991 to 1994 and ambassador to Italy and non-resident ambassador to Greece, Serbia, Albania, and San Marino from 2005 to 2010.[1] From 2010 to 2015, Zindani served as the ambassador to Jordan.[1] Later on, Zindani served as the Yemeni consul in Saudi Arabia before being appointed ambassador to the country in 2016, as well as the permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,[3][1][5] serving in these roles until his appointment as foreign minister in 2024.[6]

Minister of Foreign Affairs (2024–2026)

Zindani in a meeting
Zindani with United States ambassador Steven Fagin in September 2024

Since 2014, there has been a civil war in Yemen between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition.[7][8][9] The internationally recognized government is represented by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), led by President Rashad al-Alimi. Zindani was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates by al-Alimi on 27 March 2024 to succeed Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, who was appointed prime minister.[1] The selection of Zindani provoked internal objections from multiple members of the PLC as well as Bin Mubarak, who feared that Zindani would overhaul his previous diplomatic appointments. The Saudi government hosted a meeting in Riyadh with the PLC and Bin Mubarak in April reportedly to settle the disputes.[10]

Zindani with Yvette Cooper
Zindani with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in November 2025

As foreign minister, Zindani sought to strengthen relations with numerous countries including Oman,[11] Egypt,[12] Kuwait,[13] and Vietnam.[14] In June 2024, Zindani held meetings with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Oman, in which their respective foreign ministers emphasized the importance of their countries' relations with Yemen.[11][12] Likewise, with Kuwait and Vietnam, he signed agreements to increase trade and relations.[13][14] In an interview broadcast by Al Hadath on 11 May 2024, he reported warming relations with Ba'athist Syria, which did not recognize the Houthis as the legitimate authority in Yemen.[15] Upon the fall of the Assad regime, Zindani held his first call with his Syrian caretaker government counterpart Asaad al-Sheibani on 30 December, during which they agreed upon the revitalization of bilateral relations and the reopening of the Yemeni embassy,[16] which had been closed since 2012.[17]

Speaking to The National in a February 2025 interview, Zindani said that "we don't see an end to the war any time soon," and believed Iran would continue to support the Houthis despite the weakening of its proxy network. He said the foreign ministry was engaged in strengthening relations with regional neighbours and was being restructured to reduce corruption.[18] He told Asharq al-Awsat in August that peace negotiations were effectively frozen due to a lack of cooperation from the Houthis on the encouragement of Iran. He voiced support for the Hans Grundberg, the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, "despite his shortcomings in some areas," and urged greater international action to combat Iranian weapons shipments to the Houthis. He emphasized the government's positive relations with China and Saudi Arabia, stating of the latter that they "constantly aspire to coordinate our efforts on the international arena."[19] Amidst a Saudi-backed Yemeni government offensive against the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in early January 2026, Zindani voiced support for the Saudi government's proposed conference between the different factions of southern Yemen.[20]

Premiership (2026–present)

The PLC appointed Zindani as prime minister on 15 January 2026 following the resignation of Salem Saleh bin Braik, and tasked him with forming a new cabinet. The move came amid turmoil within the government-controlled areas of the country following the collapse of the STC.[21] Political researcher Abdulghani al-Iryani viewed the selection of Zindani, the first prime minister to be born in Dhale, as a means of retaining representation for the southern governorate following the flight of STC leader Aidarus al-Zoubaidi.[22]

The new cabinet was announced on 6 February, with Zindani assuming the position of prime minister while also retaining his role as foreign minister.[23] A total of 35 ministers were included in the cabinet, an increase of 10 members compared to the previous one. Its composition was noted for diversity in terms of professional background and regional and political representation, the latter interpreted by researcher Yaseen al-Tamimi as a return to an appeasement policy towards the different actors in the country. The inclusion of three female ministers was praised by local women's rights activists, while reception in the south was more mixed, with many southern separatists criticizing the new cabinet.[24]

Zindani stated his government's objectives would be "improving living conditions and services, combating corruption," and bringing back territories from Houthi control.[24] After being officially sworn in, Zindani said his first action would be to move the cabinet from Saudi Arabia to Aden.[25] The cabinet held its first meeting in Aden on 19 February.[26]

On 23 July 2026, Afrah al-Zouba was appointed foreign minister, ending al-Zindani's term in the position. al-Zouba was the first woman appointed in the role or any of the cabinet's top positions.[27]

Personal life

Zindani is married and has three daughters and a son. Besides Arabic, his native language, he speaks English.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Arabic: شايع محسن الزنداني, romanized: Šāyiʿ Muḥsin az-Zindānī; also transliterated as Shaea and Shae'a, and Zandani

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Elsayed, Ahmed (20 January 2026). شائع الزنداني: دبلوماسي مخضرم على رأس الحكومة اليمنية [Shayea al-Zindani, a veteran diplomat, heads the Yemeni government.]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Yahya, Ahmed (16 January 2026). مجلس القيادة الرئاسي اليمني يعين شائع الزنداني رئيساً للوزراء، فماذا نعرف عنه؟ [The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council appoints Shaya al-Zindani as Prime Minister, so what do we know about him?]. BBC Arabic (in Arabic). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 ماذا تعرف عن شائع الزنداني رئيس الحكومة اليمنية الجديدة؟ (بروفايل) [What do you know about Shayea al-Zindani, the new Yemeni Prime Minister? (Profile)]. Arabi21 (in Arabic). 6 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  4. ↑ al-Jahafi, Raed (27 March 2024). من هو الدكتور شايع الزنداني الذي تم تعيينه اليوم وزيراً للخارجية في حكومة الشرعية [Who is Dr. Shaya al-Zindani, who was appointed today as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the legitimate government?]. Aden al-Ghad (in Arabic). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  5. ↑ اليمني, المشهد (22 December 2016). "المشهد اليمني - من هو شايع الزنداني السفير الجديد لدى السعودية ؟ .. (سيرة ذاتية )". www.almashhad.news (in Arabic). Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  6. ↑ اليمني, المشهد (3 July 2018). "من هو شايع الزنداني السفير الجديد لدى السعودية ؟ .. (سيرة ذاتية ) | المشهد اليمني". المشهد اليمني (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Yemen". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Yemen's Houthis form own government in Sanaa". Al Jazeera. 6 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Hassan, Islam (31 March 2015). "GCC's 2014 Crisis: Causes, Issues and Solutions". Gulf Cooperation Council's Challenges and Prospects. Al Jazeera Research Center. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Coombs, Casey (15 July 2024). "Foreign Minister Appointment Tests Anti-Houthi Unity". Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Oman, Yemen underline keenness to enhance relations in all fields". Times of Oman. Oman News Agency. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  12. 1 2 Mohamed, Gobran (26 June 2024). "Egypt backs Yemen peace efforts". Arab News. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Kuwait, Yemen hold discussions, sign MoUs". Kuwait News Agency. 26 January 2025. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Yemen , Vietnam Sign Agreement to Expand Diplomatic Ties and Global Coordination". Yemen Online. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Yemen Embassy in Damascus: A test of Iran's influence and rapprochement with Arabs". Enab Baladi. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Yemen's Foreign Minister Announces Plans to Reopen Embassy in Syria". Barran Press. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Yemen government considers expelling Syrian Ambassador read here link websitefree erotic adult stories astrobix.com illistrated adult stories- Yemen Post English Newspaper Online". yemenpost.net. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  18. ↑ AlTaher, Nada (17 February 2025). "'No vision for peace in Yemen,' says Foreign Minister". The National. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Yemen FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iran encouraging Houthis to prolong war, reject peace". Arab News. Asharq Al-Awsat. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Riyadh conference a political opportunity to correct the course: Yemen's foreign minister". Al Arabiya English. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  21. ↑ "Yemen Names Foreign Minister as New Premier Amid Rift in Gulf Coalition". Kurdistan24. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  22. ↑ Al-Iryani, Abdulghani (2 February 2026). "A Chance to Break the Cycle of Conflict". Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  23. ↑ Magdy, Samy (7 February 2026). "Yemen's ruling council names new cabinet after deadly clashes in the south". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Hope and scepticism as Yemen announces a new cabinet". Al Jazeera. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  25. ↑ Al-Qahtani, Badr (12 February 2026). "Yemen PM Al-Zindani to Asharq Al-Awsat: Govt. to move to Aden soon, Foreign Ministry retained to complete reforms". Arab News. Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Yemen's PM chairs first Cabinet meeting in Aden". Arab News. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Who is Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen's first female foreign minister?". Al Jazeera Media Network. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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