Why is it difficult to negotiate with the Houthis and reach a political solution in Yemen? American analysis answers
English - Thursday 10 June 2021 الساعة 03:04 pm
NewsYemen, special translation:
According to an American analysis, it is very difficult to negotiate with the Houthis and reach a political solution to end the war in Yemen.
The analysis, which was published by the American newspaper Al-Monitor, attributed this to the extremist Houthi ideology, considering that the Houthis are part of the Iranian political project in the region, and they are also part of an ideological project and believe that they are an extension of God to rule and enslave people.
The newspaper's analysis indicated that peace negotiations between the Yemeni government, which is recognized by the United Nations, and the Houthi rebel group; Over the past six years, they have proven futile, and all efforts to halt the devastating conflict have made no significant progress.
Hopes were raised in the wake of President Joe Biden's victory in the US elections in November. Biden was serious about helping stop the devastating war that has made Yemen home to the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Although nearly five months have passed since the appointment of the US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, the cycle of violence has not abated, and Yemenis fear diplomacy will remain ineffective to help mitigate hostilities.
Some Yemenis believe that US-led diplomatic efforts will not bear fruit given the Houthi group's agenda and ideology. The failure of previous peace talks is also an indication of what awaits Linderking's peace plans for Yemen.
Yemeni and Western analysts say the United States can pressure the Yemeni government to act in a specific direction. But it failed to pressure the Houthi group to respond positively to the peace proposals.
Recently, the Houthi militia refused the entry of the UN envoy to Sanaa, and also refused to meet with the US envoy and the UN envoy in Muscat.
The rebel group also continued its military offensive on Ma'rib Governorate without showing any mercy. There are hundreds of displacement camps in Marib, which shelter thousands of families.
Since February, the Houthis have intensified their aggressive attacks, as they seek to control the city of Marib, the last seat of government in northern Yemen.
Some analysts believe that it is difficult to negotiate with the Houthis and reach a political solution. The Houthis see the United States as Saudi Arabia's main partner in the Yemen war and do not expect peace from Washington. Accordingly, they will likely not take any US peace proposal seriously.
Most recently, Lenderking visited the Gulf states, focusing on what the State Department described as "a lasting political solution and humanitarian relief for the Yemeni people." The result was disappointing, because the Houthis continued to display mistrust in US peace efforts.
On Friday, the US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, said that the Houthi group in Yemen "bears the major responsibility for refusing to participate in the ceasefire and taking other moves to end the conflict."
The US analysis concluded that the hope for the success of peace talks with the Iranian-backed Houthi group is uncertain. Years of negotiations on Yemen have not succeeded in achieving a serious truce that could last even days, let alone ending the deep-rooted hostility between the Houthis and their political opponents permanently.
