Barran Press
The coordinators and founders of the "Masarat Al-Musalaha" (Paths of Reconciliation) platform in Ma'rib Governorate have accused the European Institute for Peace of "using the project's name to implement local events in the governorate."
In a statement received by "Barran Press," the platform's coordinators and founder, Ahmed Al-Abab, expressed their surprise at the institute's continued implementation of these events "despite our repeated warnings, along with our colleagues in other targeted governorates, against using the platform's name and project."
The statement further stated: "We were surprised when the institute invited some personalities in Ma'rib Governorate through their channels to participate in an event on environmental pathways for reconciliation. This project was within the scope of our work, and we were forced to stop completing it after discovering the hidden agendas they were trying to pass through this project."
The statement added: "The coordinators and founders of the platform in four governorates announced that we would work independently from the European Institute for Peace, and according to the national agenda we established in the Masarat Al-Musalaha platform. We aim to return it to its rightful path, away from the suspicious agendas driven by the institute through their Yemeni representative residing in America, Hisham Al-Omiesi, and his assistant in Yemen, residing in Sana'a, Suad Al-Salahi, who is currently in Ma'rib Governorate."
The statement called on the local authority in the governorate, headed by Presidential Council member Major General Sultan bin Ali Al-Araida, "to not allow any activities or events that the European Institute for Peace attempts to hold in the governorate under the name of the platform or otherwise, taking advantage of the trust and respect the initiative enjoys among the Ma'rib community."
The statement confirmed that "all coordinators of the initiative in Ma'rib Governorate, without exception, reject the agendas and goals of the European Institute for Peace. They refuse to deal with it or its suspicious projects, and join their voices with the voices of other coordinators in the governorates of Mahra, Taiz, and Aden in preventing the institute, its activities, and those working with it to implement its suspicious agendas."
On July 1, 2024, a community dialogue workshop began in Ma'rib city to discuss climate and environmental challenges and their impact on the lives and security of residents.
During the event, Suad Al-Salahi, a representative of the European Institute, explained that the environmental pathways project is implemented in two phases. The first phase involved consulting with Yemenis about their experiences, needs, and priorities related to environmental and climate security. The second phase will involve opening and facilitating spaces for dialogue and participation to reach a shared understanding of how environmental and climate security risks are linked to conflict and to start identifying solutions for peace.
Al-Salahi noted that this dialogue workshop, which is attended by 25 participants representing relevant sectors in the local authority, influential community leaders, and leaders of civil society organizations, is one of three workshops to be held in the coming period.