UN envoy outlines peace plan to Houthi rebels

sanaa — The United Nations envoy to Yemen has handed an outline for a peace plan to Houthi rebels in control of the capital which includes depriving their rival, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, of his authorities and the withdrawal of militias from major cities, a Houthi-affiliated politician said on Tuesday.

Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed left Sanaa after a three-day visit aimed at pushing for an end the country’s 19-month conflict that has killed thousands.

He held meetings with the Houthi rebels and their allies of the General People’s Congress, the onetime ruling party of Yemen under ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is accused of aiding Houthis in their takeover of the capital in 2014 after descending from their northern enclave. Together, they forced the internationally-recognised government of Hadi to flee the country and seek Arab military intervention.

According to a statement by Ahmed’s office, the UN envoy presented “a written roadmap that addresses security and political arrangements.” The statement said that Houthis and their allies said they will give their response in the coming days. He gave no details on the road map.

According to the Houthi-affiliated politician, the peace plan also includes transferring the powers of the internationallyrecognised president to a new prime minister and a vice-president, in addition to the formation of a national unity government, while easing out Houthis from cities under their control. The deal also suggests the formation of a team of international observers to supervise the militias’ withdrawal. —