Yemen twomonth ceasefire begins with hopes for peace talks
The first nationwide truce in Yemen since 2016 has begun, with both sides pledging to keep the ceasefire for at least two months. The conflict, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions, has been a source of concern for the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations. The upcoming truce aims to bring relief to the suffering Yemenis. Some of the terms of the truce include the entry of 18 fuel ships into Hodeida port and the opening of roads in Taiz to improve civilian freedom of movement.
Despite the hopes for a peace deal, the Yemen ceasefire has yet to bring wider peace. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all sides to adhere to the truce and to hold political talks aimed at a negotiated political settlement. He also said that the UN would continue to monitor the ceasefire process. It will be important for the UN to monitor the ceasefire.
The ceasefire comes as a welcome move after the Houthis announced a unilateral ceasefire in Hudaydah, an important port city in the country. The truce also includes a three-day suspension of attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, as the airport has been under a blockade since 2015. Meanwhile, the government of Yemen has announced that it will ease restrictions on the movement of civilians in Hudaydah.
The UN-sponsored talks in Rimbo, Sweden, are intended to pave the way for full peace talks. The two sides have agreed to free at least 1,400 fighters and create a humanitarian corridor into the city of Taiz. The next step will be to begin negotiations. The ceasefire ends on December 31, after which the two sides will be able to sit down and negotiate a lasting peace agreement.
In December 2018, the UN Security Council approved a new ceasefire in Yemen to end the fighting for two months. The UN secretary-general's envoy in the country called on the warring parties to comply with the agreement and work toward a political settlement. The UN urged both sides to maintain the truce for at least two months to ensure a permanent ceasefire. A political settlement in Yemen would not only result in improved humanitarian conditions, but peace talks would be necessary to prevent further deterioration.
The UN-brokered ceasefire will be in effect for 88 days, allowing fuel shipments to reach Hodeida and passenger flights to resume from Sanaa. The U.N. representative is in Riyadh to discuss the ceasefire and hopes for the talks to be successful. It is expected to remain in place through the end of Ramadan, but will continue until a political agreement is reached.
Despite the difficulties, the ceasefire in Yemen will last for two months and will be tied to the peace process in the coming months. On April 17, a Saudi-led coalition delegation will visit Yemen and begin negotiations. However, the government has not responded to the peace efforts and talks have not yet taken place. This is not to suggest that the ceasefire will be ineffective. This is only the first step to a lasting settlement.
Iran's foreign ministry has expressed optimism for a two-month ceasefire in Yemen, expressing hope for the truce to lead to political peace talks. It has also stated that the peace process would be effective only if all sides adhere to the agreement. In addition, it will allow for fuel shipments to Hodeida and air traffic in the capital Sanaa. It is hoped that a full-prisoner exchange is another key to bringing about lasting peace in Yemen.
The ceasefire in Yemen is a significant step forward but has yet to bring lasting peace. While the truce has led to a brief period of relative stability, the ceasefire in Yemen has yet to bring lasting peace. The UN Secretary-General has urged all parties to adhere to the truce and to seek a political settlement. With this, the coalition and the Houthis are attempting to seize Aden and Marib.
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