UN Secretary-General Attempts to 'Accelerate' Yemen Negotiations

The UN Secretary-General has called for measures to expedite peace negotiations in Yemen in a letter to the Security Council, noting that "deep disagreements" still exist between the parties involved. According to a report by AFP, both sides (the rebels and the Hadi government) are trying to reach an agreement in Kuwait, but significant differences remain that need to be resolved to achieve a desired outcome. The latest tensions and battles in Yemen began in 2015. The Houthi rebels, supported by Tehran, along with allies loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, forced President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi to relinquish power. The rebels continued their advance in Yemen and approached Aden. Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, and a Saudi-led coalition began attacks against the rebels. UN efforts have led to a ceasefire that has been somewhat in effect since April. The fighting has not completely ceased, and clashes still occur. Negotiations between the parties are ongoing in Kuwait. Now, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, has requested in his letter to Security Council members that the number of UN mission staff for Yemen be increased and that they be transferred from New York to Amman to continue mediation efforts with greater intensity and strength. A larger group of UN experts will provide advice to the parties involved on various issues, especially to maintain the ceasefire. Ban Ki-moon states that the ceasefire is in a "very fragile state" and requires more support. He warned that an increase in violence would undermine the Kuwait negotiations and could jeopardize stability and security. The latest peace talks began on April 21 (a month ago); however, reports indicate that the situation has deteriorated due to the frequent walkouts by Hadi's representatives. On Monday, after nearly a week, the parties engaged in face-to-face discussions. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN envoy for Yemen and the main coordinator of the peace talks, stated in a statement released on June 5 that the parties are moving toward a "common understanding of each other's demands and viewpoints." A crucial point remains the agreement on a transitional government. The Houthis and their supporters are calling for the establishment of something akin to a national unity government, while government representatives insist that the legitimacy of power for Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi must be maintained. The civil war in Yemen has resulted in at least 6,500 deaths since the onset of the Arab coalition's attacks, with at least half of the casualties being civilians.