December 8, 2015
Yemen peace talks were announced to take place in Switzerland under the auspices of the United Nations, led by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to help end the conflict in the country.
Geneva, Switzerland | United Nations
On December 8, 2015, it was announced that peace talks regarding the conflict in Yemen would be held in Switzerland under the auspices of the United Nations. The announcement marked a significant step in ongoing international efforts to address the civil war in Yemen, a conflict that erupted in 2014 when the Houthi movement, allied with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, seized control of large swathes of the country, including the capital, Sana’a. This conflict prompted a military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
The conflict in Yemen has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with thousands of casualties and widespread displacement among the civilian population. The complex tribal, regional, and political underpinnings, alongside regional power dynamics involving Saudi Arabia and Iran, have exacerbated the situation and made peace negotiations particularly challenging.
The United Nations had been facilitating peace efforts for Yemen since mid-2015, following increased international pressure to find a political solution to the crisis. The various parties involved in the conflict had previously attempted to negotiate a resolution, but these attempts failed to achieve a sustainable ceasefire or agreement.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen at the time, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, played a crucial role in organizing and facilitating the peace talks. As a seasoned diplomat, Ould Cheikh Ahmed was tasked with navigating the intricate layers of political tensions and hostilities that characterized the Yemeni conflict. His efforts were focused on bringing together representatives from the Yemeni government, Houthi forces, and other factions to negotiate a framework for peace.
The primary objective of the peace talks was to establish a ceasefire and pave the way for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis. By convening these discussions in Switzerland, the UN aimed to create a neutral environment conducive to dialogue and compromise among the conflicting parties.
Key topics on the agenda included:
The announcement of the peace talks was viewed as a beacon of hope for alleviating the humanitarian suffering and bringing stability to the region. Although fraught with challenges, these negotiations represented a crucial effort by the international community, under UN leadership, to mediate a resolution in one of the Middle East’s most devastating conflicts. While the immediate outcomes of the talks in Switzerland would yet be determined, the concerted push for dialogue reflected a significant diplomatic effort to restore peace and order in Yemen.
Source: www.un.org