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Yemeni Insurgency Inhibits Peace Talks Headway by Dodging Topic on Arms Handover | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Shi’ite Houthi rebels chant slogans as they ride in a pickup truck at the army’s First Armored Division compound after taking it over, in Sana’a, Yemen, on September 22 2014. AP


Yemeni Insurgency Inhibits Peace Talks Headway by Dodging Topic on Arms Handover

by | Jun 10, 2016 | Middle East |

Yemeni Insurgency Inhibits Peace Talks Headway by Dodging Topic on Arms Handover

Cairo- Houthis turning in their arsenal is considered to be one of the chief controversies inhibiting progress at the peace talks underway in Kuwait. The government’s delegation insists on implementing U.N. resolution 2216, which rules that all militias and their allies relinquish arms, handing them over to legitimate authority.

The insurgency owns masses of potent artillery which they have ransacked from defense ministry stockpiles and army camps. The rebels would conspire with military officers loyal to the ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, gaining access to legitimate miliary locations; not to mention the supplies received from Iran over the last few years.

Sources located at the negotiations told Asharq Al-Aawsat newspaper that the case on turning arms is the chief argument to resolve and the most important axis for the talks to achieve progress.

Despite all that being said, Houthis alongside their ally Saleh are dodging any confrontation on the subject due to their desire for keeping military power, which violates international resolutions.

Disingenuously, the insurgency wishes to partake in the political life of Yemen while still preserving their status quo as an armed paramilitary force.

Houthis inspire their logic from a similar, more evolved body, which is the so-called Hezbollah. Depending on fire power, the insurgency wishes to keep the country’s fate in check.

Yemeni officials and supervisors confirm that there will be no effective peace so long that the insurgency refuses to turn in arms—all paramilitary forces must surrender gun power for constitutional authority to be bolstered and empowered.

Major General Hussain Al Aji Al Awadhi explains that the Houthi movement, which was born with a rifle, and death for a creed, will not be able to simply turn over guns.

Maj. Gen. Awadhi told Asharq Al-Awsat that what is worse is that the insurgents play at disarming legitimate authorities which are represented by the constitutional legitimacy of the president, government, the outcome of national dialogue and the Gulf initiative.

Awadhi also confirmed that the international references the legitimate government employs are the greatest weapon they possess, and is what brings about all the forces against the insurgency. He also warned that any breach compromising the factors to legitimacy will lead to the disbandment of the forces united under its league. “After compromising legitimacy, people will yield, and move for extremism,” he said.