Barran Press
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has declared a halt to peace efforts, accusing the Houthi rebels of failing to move beyond "paper proposals" while continuing their military activities.
In an interview with the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, PLC member Othman Majali stated that the Houthis have "stopped peace efforts" and are instead "continuing violations, smuggling equipment for digging tunnels in mountains, storing weapons, and fabricating one-sided battles on all fronts and border areas."
Majali emphasized the government's commitment to "wisdom," acknowledging the suffering of the Yemeni people under the Houthi insurgency, which has caused widespread infrastructure damage, economic collapse, currency devaluation, and a multitude of ongoing crises.
The statement comes after a July 23rd agreement brokered by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, which saw the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels agree on several de-escalation measures regarding the banking sector and Yemeni Airways.
The agreement included the lifting of recent sanctions on banks by both sides, the resumption of Yemeni Airways flights between Sana'a and Jordan with an increase to three flights daily, and daily flights to Cairo and India. The agreement also stipulated meetings to address administrative, technical, and financial challenges facing Yemeni Airways, as well as discussions on broader economic and humanitarian issues based on a roadmap.
The UN Special Envoy highlighted Saudi Arabia's crucial role in reaching the agreement and expressed the UN's readiness to work with both parties for its implementation. The Envoy also offered to facilitate communication with authorities in Jordan, Egypt, and India.
The Yemeni government swiftly implemented its commitments, halting banking sanctions and resuming Yemeni Airways flights from Sana'a to Jordan, Cairo, and India for the first time since 2014.
However, the peace process has faltered once again. In December 2023, the UN announced a ceasefire agreement between the warring parties, including a nationwide ceasefire, measures to improve living conditions in Yemen, and preparations for a comprehensive political process under UN auspices.
This latest setback can be attributed to the Houthi's continued attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, which began in November 2023.
The PLC's declaration highlights the fragility of the peace process and the challenges posed by the Houthis' ongoing military activities. The international community is now watching closely to see if the parties can overcome these obstacles and return to the negotiating table.