Yemen rejects UN force in Hodeida

City should come under control of government — minister

Yemen’s Saudi-backed government is willing to accept a UN role in Hodeida’s seaport, a lifeline for millions of people during the country’s war, but not a longterm presence in the city itself, Foreign Minister Khalid Al Yamani said yesterday.

Al Yamani told Reuters that Hodeida, which is currently held by the Iranian-aligned Al Houthi militia, should come under the control of his government. Al Houthis said they want Hodeida to be declared a neutral zone.

Al Yamani rejected this idea. “The concept of peacekeeping or some sort of permanent presence of the UN – boots on the ground – or making the city as neutral is something that we will never accept,” he said on the sidelines of the talks. The government is willing to accept the deployment of monitors from the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism in the port, the entry point for most of Yemen’s commercial goods and aid supplies.

Another round of talks on the Yemen conflict will likely take place in the coming months, sources said yesterday, as warring parties met for UNsponsored talks in Sweden.

The Sweden initiative marks the first meeting between the two sides since the 2016 breakdown of talks to end the Yemen war, which has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

Foreign Minister Khalid Al Yamani said the Yemeni government was willing to accept a UN role in Hodeida’s seaport, a lifeline for millions of people during the country’s war, but not a long-term presence in the city itself.

Al Yamani told Reuters that Hodeida, which is currently held by Al Houthis, should come under the control of his government. Control of Hodeida, Al Houthis’ main supply line, is one of the trickiest issues at the talks. Al Houthis said they want Hodeida to be declared a neutral zone.

Al Yamani rejected this idea. “The concept of peacekeeping or some sort of permanent presence of the UN – boots on the ground – or making the city as neutral is something that we will never accept.” Al Yamani, who heads the government delegation, said the city should be placed under the control of the interior ministry’s police forces as a matter of sovereignty.

However, the government is willing to accept the deployment of monitors from the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) in the port, the entry point for most of Yemen’s commercial goods and aid supplies.

Meanwhile, mass prisoner swap between Al Houthis and the government, another key issue at the talks, has been finalised, both sides said yesterday.

Haid Haig, head of the governmental delegation tasked with the swap, told AFP the deal would be fully implemented by the end of January.

“We agreed ... the deal would be complete within 48 days,” Haig said. Asked when he expected the exchange to be complete, he replied: “In theory, in January.” He said the list of names should be “mutually handed over by end of day today.”

An adviser to the Al Houthis in Sweden confirmed the list of names would be completed yesterday.