After spending three days in the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg voiced his optimism about the truce holding. However, Houthi militias had handed the Swedish diplomat their conditions for participating in talks for a permanent peace in Yemen.
A two-month ceasefire took effect in Yemen 11 days ago.
During his stay in Sanaa, Grundberg met with Houthi officials that included the group’s foreign minister, head of detainees, central bank governor, and prime minister.
While the UN envoy expressed his optimism that the truce would hold, despite reports of violations, he told reporters before leaving Sanaa airport, that preparations are in full swing to open Sanaa airport to commercial flights that have been suspended for 6 years.
Moreover, Grundberg told the press that there is also work underway to find consensus on opening blocked roads in Taiz and other Yemeni governorates.
Grundberg urged the Yemeni parties to abide by the truce, calling for dialogue in good faith, prior to his expected monthly briefing before the UN Security Council.
According to Houthi sources, militia leaders demanded the UN envoy work “in the right direction for the success of the agreed efforts.”
They insisted on the opening of the Sanaa International Airport and the ports of Hodeidah.
The Houthis also informed Grundberg that they did not recognize the transfer of power that took place in Riyadh. They rejected the formation of a Presidential Leadership Council to succeed President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
Despite international efforts and pressure to end the war in Yemen, observers believe that the Houthis are not serious about going to peace consultations that could end their coup.
More so, observers see that Houthis are exploiting humanitarian aspects to advance their political agenda.
They also warned that the militias would use the truce to rearrange their ranks and wage war again.
