Skip to main content

Slow response to Yemen’s crisis points to government incompetence

As Yemen is facing its worst humanitarian and economic crisis in its modern history, the Saudi-led coalition needs to step up and restore security in the liberated areas by eliminating militias.
A boy sits next to food supplies he received from a local charity in Sanaa, Yemen, June 23, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi - RTX2HU73
Read in 

The Yemeni warring parties were unable to reach an agreement during peace talks held in the Kuwaiti capital between April 21 and the end of June. The negotiation sessions were suspended with the intention of being resumed July 15. The resumption of the negotiations remains uncertain, especially after Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi threatened to boycott the next round of talks due to differences with the United Nations special envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Even if negotiations are resumed, there are no guarantees that they will last for a shorter period or provide a positive outcome.

Meanwhile, the suffering of Yemenis continues with no end in sight for the ongoing war. It is becoming clear that no warring party will be able to claim complete victory, and that the only losers of this war are ordinary Yemeni citizens. With the destruction of basic infrastructure and the slow recovery in the “liberated” areas in the south of Yemen and most importantly the devaluation of the Yemeni riyal, the costs of this war are borne by Yemenis.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.