[08/03/2026 07:18]

ADEN – SABA
Minister of Local Administration Engineer Badr Basalama discussed Sunday with French Ambassador to Yemen Catherine Corm-Kammoun ways to enhance cooperation to support decentralization, empower local authorities and strengthen local development efforts in the governorates.

The meeting, which was held via video conference and attended by the Deputy Minister of Local Administration Moeen Mahmoud and several ministry undersecretaries, addressed the government's and the Presidential Leadership Council’s directions aimed at strengthening administrative and financial decentralization and enabling local authorities to exercise their powers through carefully planned and gradual stages.

Minister Basalama reviewed the strategic plans the ministry intends to implement in the coming years, which include a comprehensive program to strengthen decentralization and prepare governorates for the phase of transferring powers. This would contribute to improving the institutional performance of local authorities and enabling them to manage the development process at the local level both financially and administratively.

He affirmed that the ministry is working according to a comprehensive reform vision aimed at addressing existing imbalances in the governorates and gradually preparing them for the transfer of financial and administrative powers according to clear standards that ensure institutional readiness and efficiency.

The Minister of Local Administration also noted that this approach is accompanied by the development of an integrated system to evaluate the institutional performance of local authorities.

The system will identify strengths and weaknesses based on precise indicators that promote transparency and accountability while encouraging improved performance in administrative units.

For her part, the French Ambassador praised the efforts made by the Ministry of Local Administration in developing the local governance system and strengthening the path of decentralization.

She affirmed France’s readiness to support the ministry’s plans in the short and long term and to contribute to implementing capacity-building programs and promoting local development in a way that supports stability and development in Yemen.

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