Quick fixes will not end Yemen war, experts say
The war in Yemen will not end with the aid of “quick fixes” but rather through an inclusive pact that all sides must agree, experts and officials told The National as a prisoner swap began.
An exchange of nearly 900 prisoners is taking place between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the internationally recognised government.
The process is being enabled by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It will last for three days and is expected to end on Sunday.
The UN-brokered deal is seen as a breakthrough in the long-running conflict, but experts and officials have said that more needs to be done.
“It’s clear that the nine-yearlong Yemeni conflict cannot be resolved through quick fixes alone,” Ahmed Nagi, senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, said.
“Instead, the country requires a comprehensive, multi-track strategy to address the extensive legacy of war and identify viable solutions for the future.”
Mr Nagi said the swap would help build confidence between the two sides. During the past few years, local and international mediators have organised successful exchanges but “these actions have not resulted in any significant progress towards resolving the broader conflict”, he said.
There is a seriousness about wanting to end the war and this deal could “increase swaps of prisoners or even serve as a catalyst for solutions to other conflict issues”, he said.
Hooria Mashour, Yemen’s former human rights minister and member of several civil society groups, told The National that any future talks and deals between the warring parties must be broadly inclusive.
“I am observing the developments in Sanaa and across the country with cautious optimism as the Houthis have obstructed peace efforts in the past,” she said. For Yemen to have a successful peace process, all “parties and components of the country” must be considered, she added.
“Peace with only one party will be fragile and will not meet the aspirations of the overwhelming majority,” Ms Mashour said. “We will see the return of violence and conflict.”
Baraa Shiban, former adviser to the Yemeni embassy in London, said a lot more must be done to push for peace.
“The prisoner swap in my opinion will go ahead even if no peace deal is announced because both parties have an interest in seeing it go through,” he said. The Houthis appear to be keen to stop cross-border attacks
in Saudi Arabia, said Mr Shiban, who is also a former member of the Yemeni National Dialogue Council.
“However, I don’t see them
ending their military attacks into other Yemeni provinces.
“They are happy to sign with Saudi Arabia but not the Yemeni government.”