Press release

Temporary suspension of operations at the British Embassy in Yemen

Diplomatic Staff withdrawn from the British Embassy in Sana’a on security grounds.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Announcing the decision to temporarily suspend the operations of the British Embassy in Yemen, Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood said:

The security situation in Yemen has continued to deteriorate over recent days. Regrettably we now judge that our Embassy staff and premises are at increased risk. We have therefore decided to withdraw diplomatic staff and temporarily suspend the operations of the British Embassy in Sana’a. Our Ambassador and diplomatic staff have left Yemen this morning and will return to the UK.

British Nationals who remain in Yemen despite our long standing and consistent message to leave the country should leave immediately.

We continue to believe that a stable, united, democratic and prosperous Yemen is the best future for the country. We will continue to work internationally to help Yemen achieve a legitimate, transparent political transition in which all Yemenis are represented.

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Published 11 February 2015