Yemen's Government and Houthis Agree to Roll Back Economic Measures in Saudi-Brokered Deal

The Office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, that the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, have reached an agreement on several de-escalation measures concerning the banking sector and Yemenia Airlines.

Grundberg's office stated that it received written confirmation from both parties outlining the agreement, which includes:

• Revocation of recent decisions and measures against banks by both sides, with a commitment to refrain from any similar decisions or actions in the future.
• Resumption of Yemenia Airlines flights between Sana'a and Jordan, with an increase in frequency to three flights daily. The agreement also includes daily flights to Cairo and India, or as needed.
• Holding meetings to address administrative, technical, and financial challenges faced by the airline.
• Initiating discussions on all economic and humanitarian issues based on a roadmap.

The statement further highlighted that both parties requested UN support in implementing the agreed-upon measures.

Grundberg acknowledged the crucial role played by Saudi Arabia in facilitating this agreement. He emphasized the UN's readiness to work with both sides in implementing the agreed-upon measures and offered to support communication with authorities in Jordan, Egypt, and India.

1. The UN envoy stressed the need for both parties to cooperate towards achieving an economy that serves all Yemenis and supports the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire and the resumption of an inclusive political process.