Yemen appoints first female ambassador to US

RIYADH — Yemeni Ambassador Jamila Ali Raja was sworn in on Saturday as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States, becoming the first Yemeni woman to hold the post.The oath was administered before Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi at the Yemeni Embassy in Riyadh.Al-Alimi expressed confidence in Raja’s ability to leverage her political and intellectual experience to counter misleading narratives and present Yemen as a state aligned with its regional and international environment.He directed the ambassador to fully assume her diplomatic responsibilities in Washington, reflecting the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.Al-Alimi also stressed the importance of strengthening international pressure on the Houthi militia and building trust with donor communities, while working to resume US funding for recovery programs and support efforts to restore state institutions.He highlighted the role of Yemeni diplomatic missions in mobilizing international support and reinforcing national narratives based on recognized references, describing the situation in Yemen as an armed rebellion and a threat to the state.The chairman also praised ongoing reforms in Yemen’s diplomatic sector and emphasized the need to enhance engagement with global developments and promote the vision of a unified Yemeni state.Raja previously served as deputy head of Yemen’s Consultation and Reconciliation Commission and held advisory and diplomatic roles.She was born in Taiz and is known for her work in peacebuilding, women’s rights, and diplomacy. She participated in the 2013 National Dialogue Conference and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the American University in Cairo and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Cairo University.She has also served as an advisor to European governments involved in Yemen peace efforts, including Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations, and is a founding member of the Yemeni Women’s Pact for Peace and Security.