Benomar: Yemenis Should Determine Their Future Free from Interference, Coercion from Outside Forces

The former United Nations special envoy for Yemen 2011-15, Jamal Benomar, confirmed that the US-Saudi airstrikes began after a compromise was found–covering the shape of the executive and legislature, security arrangements and a timetable for transition.

“A deal was on the table. The U.N. Security Council was briefed and I was in discussions with Saudi officials regarding the venue for a signing ceremony”, he wrote in an article for Newsweek website.

He added that a U.N. Security Council resolution provided cover for the horrors that followed. Drafted by the Saudis, it was rushed through the organ tasked with ensuring international peace by the U.S., Britain and France.

He continued: “demanding the surrender of the advancing Houthis to a government living in chic hotel-exile in Riyadh was preposterous, but irrelevant: The Russians would surely derail the resolution.”

They miscalculated. Sensing an opportunity for them also to profit through business deals with Saudi Arabia, Moscow waved it through.

Today this unworkable accident remains the basis for all the mediation pursued by the U.N. The past six years show it failed.

Benomar demanded promoting a new Security Council resolution, providing a different structure for a negotiated process that ensures a seat for every side in the conflict which must include the Houthis.

“However repressive and reprehensible the role they have played, the Houthis remain powerful: hundreds of billions in weapons sales to the Saudis later and they control more than half the country, and today are still advancing.

He confirmed that “Yemenis should be afforded the opportunity to determine their future free from interference and coercion from outside forces,” as he stated in his final report to the Security Council in April 2015.