Yemen

Yemen’s dominant southern separatist group declared self-rule in the parts of the country it controls on Sunday, leading to fears of a new and even more dangerous conflict after five years of war. The Southern Transitional Council said in its announcement that it planned to govern several southern provinces, including the capital city of Aden, which the internationally recognised government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi also claims as its seat.

The needs of Yemen’s people should be put first, ahead of actions that risk escalating the already dire situation inside the war-shattered country, UN Special Envoy for the war-weary country, Martin Griffiths, said on Monday. … In a statement, Mr. Griffiths called for greater support for a Saudi-led initiative known as the Riyadh Agreement, which seeks to resolve political differences between the Government of Yemen and the STC, improve stability and the functioning of State institutions.

The Saudi-led coalition said Friday, April 24, it was extending a unilateral ceasefire in Yemen by one month to combat the coronavirus pandemic, even as fighting persists in the war-torn country.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen is complex and multi-layered, with the involvement of rival regional powers adding a geopolitical dimension to the war. As the national framework has disintegrated, local rivalries have intensified, leaving more room for foreign state interference in the country.

With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to deepen suffering in Yemen, now is the time for rival parties to commit to ending their conflict, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Thursday, during an informal meeting via videoconference.

A Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting Houthi forces in Yemen has declared a ceasefire, according to officials. Sources told the BBC the ceasefire will come into effect on Thursday in support of UN efforts to end the five-year-old war.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have told Al Jazeera they will not stop fighting while the country is under siege. That comes after the Saudi-UAE military coalition that is battling the rebels announced a two-week unilateral ceasefire. They say it is to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The United Nations envoy to Yemen said Thursday he was engaged in talks with the country’s warring parties to secure a nationwide ceasefire to help counter the threat of the coronavirus. Martin Griffiths’ office said he is discussing “concrete steps” with the warring sides despite a recent escalation in the long conflict.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi "welcomed" the Saudi-led coalition's decision to support a ceasefire. The ceasefire proposal was a response to a UN call amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Echoing his 23 March appeal to warring parties across the globe for an immediate ceasefire, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on those fighting in Yemen to end hostilities and ramp up efforts to counter a potential outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.