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Yemeni conflict goes back to square one

Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels and their allies continue to engage in divisive efforts rather than attempting to end their conflict.
A boy looks as he attends a gathering held by tribesmen loyal to the Houthi movement to show support to a political council formed by the movement and the General People's Congress party to unilaterally rule Yemen by both groups in Sanaa, August 14, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah - RTX2KP2M

The Yemeni conflict is back at square one almost two years after the September 2014 Houthi rebel takeover of the Yemeni capital, 500 days into the Saudi-led war that began in March 2015 and after three rounds of failed peace talks. This time, however, the situation is even more complicated.

On July 28, one day after the exiled, internationally recognized and Saudi-backed government of Yemen, led by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, announced it had sold 3 million barrels of crude oil, the Houthis and their allies in the General People’s Congress, led by ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, signed an agreement to form a “political council” to run the country. The council's formation is likely in response to the Houthi/Saleh camp being excluded from reaping benefits from selling the country’s natural resources.

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