Since the Chinese brokered détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran is now underway, there’s been much hope that it would lead to peace elsewhere in a number of countries that are witnessing continued instability and tension. In particular, Yemen was the prime country many think it would see a breakthrough in the eight years long war. There is momentum now that the rapprochement between the Middle East arch-rivals would eventually lead to peace in Yemen. However, peace won’t be coming knocking on our doors. It should be earned. Peace has requirements, and each warring party needs to do its part in order for the road to peace to be on track.
Since 2015, Riyadh has waged a military campaign in support of its allied Yemeni government that was toppled by the Houthi movement in late 2014 after its takeover of the capital Sana’a. And Tehran has reportedly provided missile and drone capabilities that enabled Sana’a to launch attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities. Per officials involved in the Chinese brokered deal, Iran has promised to stop attacks from Yemen against Saudi Arabia. Iran and Oman have managed to convince the Houthi-led government in Sana’a to maintain the terms of a United Nations-brokered truce between Riyadh and Sana’a, which lapsed last October. Indeed, Iran and Oman can as well apply more pressure on Sana’a now as the current circumstances allow for more genuine talks on key debated issues.
The road to peace can understandably be a laborious process. Confidence-building measures should predate talks leading to peace. Until that happens, Saudi Arabia, its allied Yemeni government, and Sana’a authorities need to address some critical issues so that people can regain trust in peace.
Of course, Riyadh shares the biggest responsibility in addressing its own mistakes in Yemen. While restrictions on seaports and Sana’a airport have been eased, Saudi Arabia needs to do more on that. Around 22 million living in the north on which the Saudis maintain a blockade need more destinations out of Sana’a airport beyond the current one to Jordan. Certain medical appliances and life-saving drugs are still banned from reaching Sana’a. Saudi Arabia’s provision of such relief can have a remarkable impact on the people and will result in reciprocity by Sana’a.
As for the warring Yemeni parties, they must address the grievous violations they have been committing, with varying degrees, throughout the war. Detention of people suspected to be allied with the enemy has been rife. Unfortunately, journalists and activists have been caught in the crossfire. Sana’a government has detained hundreds of journalists and activists accused of being agents of Saudi Arabia – some who have been released in a prison swap multiple times. It needs to release all rights activists and journalists whose job it is to scrutinize the government and call out its misbehavior and rights violations. Trials of suspects should be transparent, and families of suspects have the right to be informed about their relatives’ whereabouts. The Saudi-allied Yemeni government that controls the south has done similar unlawful detention of people they suspect of being allied to their rivals or criticized the government’s conduct on social media. Torture and denial of trials have been pervasive in the south. The authorities in the south got to release those abruptly detained without any evidence except that they were coming from the north, where their rival is. Of particular concern are those who travel south for access to the airport or business matters. In the south, armed gangs, nominal government security, or military officials have set up their own security checkpoints to levy illegal taxes on trucks. Elements within those apparatuses have stopped travelers, forced them to hand over their belongings, and then killed them for the sake of personal gains. Some have even highjacked convoys of aid charities. Jewelry and money exchange business owners have been robbed and killed in cold blood on a regular basis by armed militias affiliated with the authorities there. Such insecurity must be addressed, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Those abrupt detentions and rampant insecurity are a leading source of concern for each party, broadening the mistrust and hatred between the Yemeni rivals. Addressing them will make the prospect of sitting together for a peace talk much more closer than now.
Equally important is some effort on the political track. For more than seven years, the Yemeni parties have yet to sit together to discuss some outstanding issues pertaining to the economy or the ones that could lead to peace. Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran should all press their allies within Yemen to de-escalate the media’s rhetorical provocations and adhere to a more conciliatory tone. While everyone acknowledges that those measures are necessary steps to initiate a peace talk, they tend to hesitate when it comes to who should start first. Some even consider taking such steps as a weakness and concession at some points. For sane people, courage is needed to initiate such measures, and it’s well beyond time to do it now.
It’s true that ending a war can be the most challenging task, especially in the early days of the war. It’s now been eight years of war, and the rapprochement between the region’s two most fierce opponents should be seized to find an end to the conflict in Yemen. While Saudi Arabia is the main culprit in this war and needs to address the issues leading to peace, the Yemeni parties ought to do their parts and address rights issues they have committed, as well as confidence-building measures to allow for a one-on-one peace talk. They need to do it now, as the Yemeni people ravaged by this war can no longer afford to miss such an opportunity.
Ahmad Algohbary
Ahmad is a Yemeni freelance journalist based in the Netherlands.He is also the founder of Hope Relief Charity.
