The talks are about “lifting the siege with all its consequences”. The aim is to restore the rights of the Yemeni people.
Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Oman arrived in Yemen to discuss with Houthi rebels a permanent ceasefire in the eight-year civil war. They arrived in the capital Sanaa to consult with the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported on Sunday.
The talks are about “lifting the siege with all its consequences”. The aim is to end the aggression and restore the rights of the Yemeni people. Riyadh officials wanted to talk “about progress in establishing peace in Yemen,” a Yemeni diplomat in the Gulf region said on Sunday. The information was confirmed by a second diplomat.
Omani mediators arrived in Sanaa on Saturday to discuss a new ceasefire between Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, a source at the airport said. Oman has gained a reputation as a low-key mediator in Gulf disputes, which usually involve Iran.
A glimmer of hope for impoverished Yemen
Last year, Yemen’s warring parties agreed to a six-month ceasefire. However, the agreement expired in early October and was not renewed. However, it is largely fulfilled. The consultations brokered by Oman are a ray of hope for impoverished Yemen and its war-torn population. They were possible thanks to a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are fighting for dominance in the region. A few weeks ago, the two rivals agreed to resume diplomatic relations.
In Yemen, Iran supports the Shiite Houthi rebels, while Saudi Arabia leads a group of Sunni-leaning Gulf states that support the contested Houthi government. Tens of thousands of people were killed during the fighting. Yemen’s economy collapsed. The population is threatened by famine. About 80% of the population depends on international aid. United Nations peace efforts are underway in parallel with Oman-brokered talks.
In late 2014, Houthi rebels overthrew Saudi Arabia-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who they accused of corruption and mismanagement. In 2015, Saudi Arabia intervened in the conflict and forged an alliance of Sunni countries against the Houthis. The Saudi-backed government controls the south of the country, where Aden is located, while Shiite Houthi rebels control the north.
(APA/Portal/AFP)