Scepticism reigns amid new UN push for peace in Yemen
SALEH’S PARTY ISSUES STATEMENT NAMING A FORMER AGRICULTURE MINISTER AS ITS NEW CHIEF
T he United Nations envoy to Yemen, Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmad, has sent his deputy to Sana’a to try and convince Al Houthis to join peace talks with the internationally-recognised government, as the Iran-backed rebels boycott him.
Al Houthis have refused to deal with Ould Shaikh Ahmad after accusing him of “siding” with the Saudi-led coalition.
Local media reports said on Saturday that Ma’ain Sharim, the UN deputy envoy, arrived in Al Houthi-held Sana’a to launch new efforts to revive peace talks.
Yasser Al Yafae, a political analyst based in Yemen’s southern city of Aden, told Gulf News that Sharim’s efforts would lead nowhere given the Al Houthis’ persistent refusal to withdraw from cities under their control, or to release prisoners and halt the shelling of cities like Taiz.
“Al Houthis will continue to take a hardline on talks as long as they are in control of Sana’a and Hodeida,” Al Yafae said.
Hopes of reaching a peace deal in Yemen dimmed in December after Al Houthis assassinated former Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh — as punishment for ending his alliance with the militant group and voicing support for the Saudiled coalition.
Since then, Al Houthis have launched a draconian crackdown against Saleh’s supporters. Dozens have been killed and hundreds arrested.
Even if Al Houthis agree to talks, the UN envoy and his deputy will have to shuttle again between Riyadh and Aden to convince Yemen President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his government to come back to the negotiating table, Al Yafae said. “Hadi is in a stronger position now since Saleh was a threat to his authority,” he added.
Saleh party names new chief
The party of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh named a new leader yesterday.
Yesterday’s announcement said Sadeq Ameen Abu Rass, a former agriculture minister, had succeeded Saleh.
Saleh’s exiled son Ahmed Ali Saleh, had vowed to lead a campaign against Al Houthis after his father was killed, but the statement yesterday did not mention his name.