Mr. President,
The Security Council has made every effort to support a peaceful, negotiated transition in Yemen. Repeatedly over the last three years, I have been warning this Council about the dangers facing the transition. Today, I deeply regret to inform you that this transition, widely heralded as a model, is now in disarray. Over the past few weeks Yemen has witnessed dramatic events, and I have already briefed this Council twice in the last three weeks. I will not repeat myself. Thus, let me provide a factual account of events since my last briefing on 26 January.
I have continued exercising the good offices of the Secretary-General by convening negotiations on a daily basis involving twelve political parties, including Ansarallah, in order to find a consensual solution to the current political impasse. As the mediator, we must maintain both our unique access to all sides and our principled position as framed by the UN Charter and international law. We are navigating through many minefields. There had been ups and downs. Nevertheless, good progress had been made, with all sides cognisant of the need to quickly find a solution to restore public confidence.
In parallel to the negotiations, Ansarallah had organised a large three-day gathering in Sana’a that concluded on 1 February. The gathering ended with an ultimatum to finish the UNfacilitated negotiations within three days, or else revolutionary committees would take action. The 4 February deadline passed without incident, and the negotiations moved ahead.
The UN-facilitated negotiations in essence were adjourned late evening of 5 February with broad understanding amongst the parties on the general contours of an agreement. The parties decided to utilise the next day, 6 February, to resolve outstanding issues through bilateral consultations and to enable the UN to prepare a compromise text. The plan was then to reconvene on 7 February with the aim to conclude with an agreement.
However, on 6 February in a surprising move, Ansarallah took unilateral action. They organised a gathering of their supporters at the Republican Palace, and announced a so-called “constitutional declaration.” This declaration pronounced that parliament is dissolved, that a five-member presidential council would be formed and that a Supreme Revolutionary Committee would run the country temporarily.
Mr. President,
The unilateral declaration has created strong backlash domestically and internationally. Major political parties have rejected it. The prevailing political uncertainty and heightened security risks have prompted key diplomatic missions to close and to withdraw temporarily.
I made it clear that I deeply regretted the unilateral action taken by Ansarallah,
particularly while good progress had been made in the negotiations. As a representative of the Secretary-General, I have also made it clear to all parties, including Ansarallah, that the current political impasse can only be solved through peaceful dialogue and negotiations based on the Implementation Mechanism of the GCC Initiative, National Dialogue Conference outcomes and Peace and National Partnership Agreement.
I consulted with the political parties. I also had direct contact with Mr Abdelmalik Al-Houthi, who assured me that he welcomed a consensual negotiated solution through UN facilitation. I am pleased that all agreed to resume negotiations. Since the beginning of this week, we have been meeting daily and progress has been made. We are still in the middle of delicate negotiations. Under discussion are complex issues regarding governing arrangements during the transition, including both executive and legislative authorities. The parties are considering power-sharing measures in a new government of national unity, as well as mechanisms and arrangements for enabling state security institutions to re-assume their responsibility. In addition, the parties are debating means of preventing an outbreak of hostilities in Mareb, and undertakings to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, such as the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, amongst others.
Mr. President,
The situation in the oil-rich province of Mareb is very tense. Many Yemenis fear that confrontation between the Houthis and tribesmen could break out at any time. In the South, the situation is volatile. Southerners, who have suffered from years of discrimination and marginalisation, have become more assertive, with many demanding separation.
The current instability is creating conditions conducive for the re-emergence of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Even more concerning is the prospect for AQAP to establish a foothold in parts of Abyan, Shabwa, Hadramawt and Mareb. Today, AQAP have seized control of the 19th Infantry Brigade camp, which houses a large arsenal of ammunition and heavy weapons, in Bayhan, Shabwa.
Mr. President,
The political uncertainty has created serious pressure on the local currency, the riyal. If no political settlement is secured in the coming days, a real possibility exists that the riyal may collapse. Serious concerns exist that the government may be unable to pay salaries in the next two to three months. This could prompt either a default on payments or an increase in money supply (i.e., money printing that would cause severe devaluation and hyper-inflation). Should this happen, the current poverty rate of 54 per cent would increase further and private sector activities would be severely affected. Many donors already have halted development aid, and others are considering such action. This in turn would cause most capital expenditures to cease, basic service delivery to be interrupted, and tens of thousands could lose their jobs. This could further impact the security situation with unemployed joining armed groups for monetary reasons, and also contribute to a worsening of Yemen’s humanitarian needs.
An estimated 15.9 million people – or 61 per cent of the population – need humanitarian assistance. The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2015 is being finalised this week and will request some $748 million dollars to meet the needs of 8.2 million people. Of this requirement, $285 million are for urgent life-saving and protection assistance to the most vulnerable Yemenis. Humanitarian partners are concerned about possible expansion of conflict, and the impact that would have on the civilian population. The increased political instability and risk of conflict may also complicate humanitarian efforts to develop durable solutions and sustainable livelihoods, and to facilitate Yemen’s progress towards recovery.
The transition has encountered serious obstacles in the past, yet time and again Yemenis have managed to push forward. Today, Yemen is at a crossroad: either the country will descend into civil war and disintegration, or the country will find a way to put the transition back on track. This largely depends on the political will of Yemeni leaders. They all bear responsibility for the current status of affairs, as well as responsibility for finding a way to pull the country from the brink.
The political, humanitarian and security environments pose serious challenges for UN operations. Nevertheless, the UN will not leave. The UN reaffirms its commitment to Yemen as it seeks to complete its political transition. In this regard, we have been consulting and coordinating closely with the GCC and other international partners.
Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of the start of the peaceful demonstrations demanding change. It was the courage of the youth demonstrators that opened the way for Yemenis to start a path to democratic transformation. Despite all the setbacks this dream is still alive. The Yemenis can still make it. The Security Council and the international community have a responsibility to support them in these difficult times.
Thank you, Mr. President.