UN concludes new round of Yemen military coordination talks in Amman
Riyadh, June 11
The Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen has concluded a new round of Military Coordination Committee meetings in Jordan's Amman on recent developments in Yemen and the region.
This round, bringing together representatives from the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Joint Forces Command of the Saudi-led coalition, focused on ceasefire planning, maritime security and tension reduction, the office wrote on the social media platform X on Wednesday (local time).
"Such engagement under United Nations auspices remains critical in a rapidly evolving and unpredictable security environment for Yemen and the region," the office quoted UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg as saying.
Based on a commitment made by all sides, the office plans to convene all three MCC delegations, including the Houthi group, in the coming period, it wrote.
The MCC was established in April 2022 as part of a UN-brokered truce to facilitate military dialogue and de-escalation, and held its first meeting in Amman in May that same year, featuring the participation of all three MCC delegations.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when Houthi forces took control of the capital Sanaa and much of the north, triggering a broader conflict that escalated in 2015.
Addtionally, United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded a visit to Riyadh, where he met with the President of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al Alimi, PLC member, Abdul Rahman Al-Muharrami, and other senior Yemeni officials, as well as the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, the ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5) and other diplomats.
The UN Envoy exchanged views on the latest developments in Yemen and the region, emphasising the importance of maintaining stability, addressing pressing economic issues, and exploring practical avenues to advance the UN-sponsored political process, according to the X post.
He also stressed the utmost importance of continued constructive regional and international engagement to support reaching a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen.
— IANS
Reader Comments
India has always stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving regional conflicts. The UN brokered truce in 2022 gave some hope, but the situation on ground remains fragile. Maritime security concerns affect our Red Sea trade routes too - so this is relevant for us as well.
Seven years of conflict and millions displaced. The UN needs to do more than just talk in Amman - where is the real action on humanitarian aid and protecting civilians? We've heard these ceasefire promises before.
As someone who follows West Asia closely, I think the inclusion of Houthis in future talks is crucial. Without their participation, any agreement will be meaningless. But the devil is in the details - will they actually disarm and stop attacks on ships?
I appreciate Grundberg's efforts but the UN has been convening meetings for years with little to show. Meanwhile the Yemeni people are suffering from famine and disease. The international community needs to put more pressure on all sides to stop the fighting permanently.
Yemen has become a playground for regional powers and proxy wars. The MCC mechanism is a good step but without addressing the root causes - like economic collapse and governance issues - we'll be back here in another year discussing the same ceasefire plans.
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