Three weeks after its entry into force, on April 2, the truce in Yemen is churning. Although the Houthi rebellion, backed by Iran and at war with the internationally recognized government, refused to participate in the inter-Yemeni talks held in Saudi Arabia in March and early April, the ceasefire is generally respected. The Houthis, warriors from northern Yemen, members of the Zaidi minority, a branch of Shiite Islam, consider the Saudi kingdom as a “enemy territory” since going to war against them in 2015.
A simple respite or the beginning of a longer-term appeasement, this period is in any case used by Saudi Arabia to try to recalibrate its military intervention – or, at least, to give the impression of it. Lacking options in the face of the Houthis’ resilience, aware that this conflict is seriously damaging its image in Western public opinion, the Saudi crown, whose strongman is Crown Prince Mohamed Ben Salman, intends to reduce its footprint in Yemen. .
“They say they have tried everything with the Houthis, says a Yemeni observer, anxious to remain anonymous. They bombed them, tried to buy them, tried to negotiate. But nothing worked. As a result, the Saudis now want to stick to a security approach, centered on the defense of their borders, and no longer bother with ideological considerations – the fight against a movement of Shiite origin and close to their Iranian rival. Perhaps this will create an opening that will bring the Houthis to negotiate. »
Obstruction and discredit
The keystone of this new strategy is the presidential council, made up of eight personalities opposed to the Houthis, which was created on April 7, at the instigation of Riyadh. This body recovered the powers of the head of state in title, President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, pushed to the sidelines by his Saudi protector.
By federating an anti-Houthi front that he hopes is credible, Riyadh hopes to be able to initiate a disengagement from the country, or at least to step back a little. ” Saudi Arabia no longer wants to appear as a belligerent – and a fortiori as the main instigator of the conflict – but as a mediator who would be seen as impartial and responsible”, emphasizes the Yemeni observer interviewed.
Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi took over as head of the Yemeni state in 2012 following Ali Abdallah Saleh, driven out by a popular uprising after thirty-three years of reign. It was still the euphoric phase of the “Arab springs”. The new president was supposed to lead a two-year political transition that should lead to the drafting of a new constitution and the organization of a pluralist presidential election.
You have 55.58% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.
