Yemen's Exiled President Refuses to Participate in Peace Talks Without Houthi Compliance

Strategic Insights -

Yemen's President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi has announced that he will not participate in upcoming United Nations peace talks unless the Houthi rebels comply with the April U.N. Security Council resolution, which demands the withdrawal of Houthi forces from areas they have seized, including the capital city of Sanaa. The statement, published by the state-run Saba News Agency, also demands that the rebels hand over heavy arms seized from government institutions. Meanwhile, Saudi coalition troops have surged into the oil-rich province of Mareb in an attempt to take back rebel-controlled parts of the province.

Key Takeaways:

  • Yemen's President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi has announced that he will not participate in upcoming U.N. peace talks unless the Houthi rebels comply with the April U.N. Security Council resolution.
  • The resolution demands the withdrawal of Houthi forces from areas they have seized, including the capital city of Sanaa.
  • The Houthi rebels have accepted the majority of the resolution, but want to ensure that the implementation is done in a manner that doesn't keep Yemen lawless.
  • Saudi coalition troops have surged into the oil-rich province of Mareb in an attempt to take back rebel-controlled parts of the province.
  • At least 4,000 Yemeni tribal fighters aided by hundreds of coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia are battling the Houthis in Mareb.
  • Coalition air force has conducted at least 140 airstrikes in Mareb over the past six hours.
  • Over the past week, an estimated 500 Saudi coalition-led airstrikes were conducted in Sanaa, resulting in the death and injury of dozens.
  • The six-month war has resulted in the death of at least 4,000 civilians according to the Houthi-controlled Health Ministry.
  • Hadi has refused to start political talks with the Houthis for months, repeatedly demanding the rebels' acceptance of the resolution's terms.

Statistics:

  • At least 4,000 civilians have been killed in the six-month war, according to the Houthi-controlled Health Ministry.
  • Coalition air force has conducted at least 140 airstrikes in Mareb over the past six hours.
  • Over the past week, an estimated 500 Saudi coalition-led airstrikes were conducted in Sanaa.
  • At least 4,000 Yemeni tribal fighters are battling the Houthis in Mareb.
  • Dozens of Emirati, Saudi, and Bahraini troops were killed in a Houthi attack on a coalition military base last week.

Sources:

  • Saba News Agency
  • CNN
  • U.N. Security Council resolution (April)
  • Houthi-controlled Health Ministry
  • Defense Ministry
  • Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, U.N. envoy to Yemen
  • Hasan Zaid, President of the Houthi-allied Haq party