Yemenis fear collapse of ceasefire accord
FRAGILE CEASEFIRE: Analysts warn ceasefire success depends on sustained international pressure
HODEIDAH: Residents of Yemen’s flashpoint port of Hodeidah and other cities fear a Un-brokered ceasefire could collapse at any moment, saying that after four years of conflict any accord is deeply fragile.
On Friday morning, a day after the breakthrough agreement was penned in Sweden by representatives of the Yemeni government and the Ansar Allah fighters, many held their breath.
The Red Sea port of Hodeidah, a main frontline between fighters and loyalist forces backed by a coalition and key conduit of aid, had woken to calm after weeks of confrontation.
But hours later scattered clashes broke with artillery and machine gun exchanges heard through the south and east of the city, residents said.
It was the first test of the fragile ceasefire.
Saturday morning saw calm return to Hodeidah, but shops and schools remained shuttered as gunmen deployed in the south and east.
“I was so happy they had reached a solution for Hodeidah but our happiness was short lived,” 28-yearold Hodeidah resident Noha Ahmad said after the clashes.
Omar Hassan, 40, said residents of the beleaguered city have been “desperately waiting for calm and security to be restored.”
“Now we are afraid that clashes will return and persist,” he said.
Thursday’s ceasefire accord has been seen as the most significant step towards ending Yemen’s devastating conflict, but analysts warned its success depends on sustained international pressure.
Under the terms of the accord, an “immediate” ceasefire must be implemented in Hodeidah and fighters are due to withdraw in the next few days.
A prisoner swap involving some 15,000 detainees is planned and a “mutual understanding” struck to facilitate aid deliveries to Yemen’s third city Taiz — under control of loyalists but besieged by fighters.
The two sides also agreed to meet again in late January, for more talks to define the framework for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement.
But for some Hodeidah residents Thursday’s hard-won accord will come to nought.
“We don’t expect the enemy to abide by the agreement because the enemy is treacherous and not peaceful,” said Mohammed Abdo, a fighter patrolling a Hodeidah street and holding a rifle. “Peace comes through guns,” he said.
Elsewhere in the city — in central and northern districts — it was business as usual on Saturday with markets thronged with shoppers, but even there residents were cautious.
“Truces are always broken and the current agreement could collapse at any second,” said a resident who declined to be identified.
Hodeidah has been the target of an offensive launched by the coalition in June. — AFP