A busy week of diplomacy ahead for UN envoy Griffiths

Martin Griffiths, the UN secretary general’s special envoy for Yemen, enjoys a good rapport with Khaled Al Yamani, the country’s Foreign Minister.

At the abortive Geneva peace talks between Yemen’s warring factions, the two men were ensconced in constant diplomacy as the Houthi delegation ended proceedings by refusing to show up. Mr Al Yamani was relaxed enough to discuss the advice he was offering to “Martin”.

There is a formal meeting between the Yemen parties scheduled for next week, and humanitarian events to address the shortages and disease threats plaguing the country of 30 million. Mr Griffiths spent last week travelling to Sanaa and Riyadh to try to recover lost ground.

He is said to be optimistic that all parties will soon agree to confidence-building measures on prisoner swaps, flights to Sanaa and central bank operations.

When he meets again with Mr Al Yamani in New York, they will have a hefty agenda to plough through. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, last week acknowledged to The National that the tireless efforts of Mr Griffiths were in trouble.

A dispute with the government of Yemen over a deal brokered by the World Health Organisation to fly out injured civilians has soured the atmosphere around the mediator’s mission.

Mr Guterres was forced to say that such contacts did not constitute “the recognition of a Houthi camp”, in an acknowledgement of the fine line that mediation must tread.

With the Houthi leadership demanding guarantees to re-engage with the process, Mr Al Yamani has asked the UN envoy to be clear that he will not cross the line with promises to the rebels.

An important aspect of the diplomacy in New York will be to ensure the Arab Coalition’s international partners and others remain supportive of the government.

In a paper for the International Crisis Group, Peter Salisbury said the shift in tone before the UN meeting was stark.

“Although not unexpected, the swift collapse of peace efforts is deeply disappointing,” Mr Salisbury said.

“At the last minute, the Houthis demanded to be transported out of the capital Sanaa using an Omani aircraft rather than a UN one, and to take wounded fighters out with them.

“The UN sought a compromise, saying it would certify the passenger manifest of an Omani flight, but the Houthis declined to allow any inspection. With the coalition and the Houthis exchanging mutual recriminations, Griffiths had to postpone the consultations.”

Mr Salisbury said the blame game would have implications for the renewal of fighting around the port of Hodeidah.

In the absence of talks, the Arab Coalition has said the city’s liberation is critical to pressuring the Iran-backed faction to compromise.

“The Houthis, who like to play victim and argue that they are willing to engage in a peace process if the terms are fair, sent a clear message that they are not serious,” he said.

“In doing so they confirmed the suspicions of the coalition.”

Slowing the offensive around Hodeidah in the summer was a gesture of support for Mr Griffiths but the pause allowed the Houthis to reinforce their troops in the port.

Mr Al Yamani said on Friday that the government was prioritising efforts to improve conditions for all Yemenis, including those living in areas controlled from Sanaa.

As the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Yemen, the UAE will be a powerful voice in meetings focused on raising the level of support to citizens.