A UN-brokered ceasefire took effect in Yemen on Monday raising hopes that peace talks scheduled for next week may finally lead to a solution to the country’s devastating conflict. But it was not a smooth start. Hours into the truce, residents reported heavy artillery fire, gun battles and air strikes in several parts of the country though that’s unlikely to torpedo the ceasefire because all sides -- forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen last year -- have agreed to abide by its terms. The UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, called the ceasefire ‘a first step in Yemen’s return to peace’.
The ceasefire offers a rare opportunity for all sides to bring this conflict to an end. Its collapse will not only lead to a continuation of the conflict but will make future peace process more difficult. This conflict in the Arab world’s most impoverished nation has already ruined large parts of the country and raised tensions in the region. It has killed thousands and forced more than two million people from their homes. Previous attempts at peace have failed due to mutual recriminations. But the responsibility for ending the conflict lies primarily with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels which have been responsible for the overthrow of an internationally-recognised government President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The Houthis, a northern minority, descended on the capital Sanaa from their mountainous region in September 2014 and seized the capital city. They must withdraw from the territories they captured and pave the way for the restoration of the Hadi government.
There are signs that all sides are keen to avoid actions that will kill the ceasefire. For example, General Mohamed Ali al-Makdashi, the chief of staff for Hadi’s forces, said that the truce was largely holding despite some violations by rebels. “The truce has not collapsed and we hope the rebels end their attacks and respect the ceasefire,” he said, alleging breaches in several areas including the cities of Taez in the southwest and Marib east of Sanaa. The Houthis, allied with troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, also expressed their commitment to the truce.
The truce will provide a rare reprieve to residents and facilitate the supply of much-needed
aid. Nearly half of Yemen’s 22 provinces are on the verge of famine, the UN World Food Programme has said.
The UN-sponsored peace talks are set to begin on April 18 in Kuwait, which will bring together the Houthis and the government they overthrew. The UN and the international community must exert pressure on all sides to agree to a solution.
A UN-brokered ceasefire took effect in Yemen on Monday raising hopes that peace talks scheduled for next week may finally lead to a solution to the country’s devastating conflict. But it was not a smooth start. Hours into the truce, residents reported heavy artillery fire, gun battles and air strikes in several parts of the country though that’s unlikely to torpedo the ceasefire because all sides -- forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen last year -- have agreed to abide by its terms. The UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, called the ceasefire ‘a first step in Yemen’s return to peace’.
The ceasefire offers a rare opportunity for all sides to bring this conflict to an end. Its collapse will not only lead to a continuation of the conflict but will make future peace process more difficult. This conflict in the Arab world’s most impoverished nation has already ruined large parts of the country and raised tensions in the region. It has killed thousands and forced more than two million people from their homes. Previous attempts at peace have failed due to mutual recriminations. But the responsibility for ending the conflict lies primarily with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels which have been responsible for the overthrow of an internationally-recognised government President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The Houthis, a northern minority, descended on the capital Sanaa from their mountainous region in September 2014 and seized the capital city. They must withdraw from the territories they captured and pave the way for the restoration of the Hadi government.
There are signs that all sides are keen to avoid actions that will kill the ceasefire. For example, General Mohamed Ali al-Makdashi, the chief of staff for Hadi’s forces, said that the truce was largely holding despite some violations by rebels. “The truce has not collapsed and we hope the rebels end their attacks and respect the ceasefire,” he said, alleging breaches in several areas including the cities of Taez in the southwest and Marib east of Sanaa. The Houthis, allied with troops loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, also expressed their commitment to the truce.
The truce will provide a rare reprieve to residents and facilitate the supply of much-needed
aid. Nearly half of Yemen’s 22 provinces are on the verge of famine, the UN World Food Programme has said.
The UN-sponsored peace talks are set to begin on April 18 in Kuwait, which will bring together the Houthis and the government they overthrew. The UN and the international community must exert pressure on all sides to agree to a solution.
