UN Envoys in Yemen: Challenges, Failures, and the Struggle for Peace

Yemen is now enduring its tenth year of a devastating civil war, the deadliest and most costly in modern time. Various factions have clashed on military, political, and economic fronts, while diplomatic efforts have largely failed to provide effective solutions. Observers of Yemeni affairs believe that all United Nations envoys have failed to resolve the Yemen crisis. Some have even exacerbated the situation through misjudgments, unrealistic expectations, personal ambitions, or yielding to local, regional, and international pressures.

Benomar and the Task of Power Transition

Reviewing the history of UN envoys appointed to Yemen, most were tasked with defusing crises rather than short-term missions. Jamal Benomar, appointed in April 2011 and served until April 2015, led the mediation during the 2011 conflict and facilitated the transfer of power and the Gulf Initiative. He also negotiated the Peace and Partnership Agreement in 2014 following the Ansar Allah (Houthis) takeover of Sana’a, but failed to inform other participating parties until the last moments before signing.

The Failure of Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed

Following Benomar, Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed served from April 2015 to February 2018. He faced numerous obstacles from the Houthis, including an attack on his convoy during a visit to Sanaa in 2017. He resigned after failing to broker a humanitarian ceasefire, reflecting the failure of UN efforts, including the "Kerry Plan," which aimed to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2216. In his final briefing to the UN Security Council, Ould Cheikh Ahmed proposed a comprehensive political solution for Yemen, which was rejected by the parties at the last moment due to the Houthis' unwillingness to make concessions. His departure coincided with international movements led by Britain to find solutions to the crisis, resulting in the appointment of a new British UN envoy.

 Griffiths' Leniency

Martin Griffiths was appointed as the UN Special Envoy to Yemen in February 2018. Despite initial optimism, his tenure was marred by leniency towards the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group. This leniency was evident when the Houthis skipped the 2018 Geneva consultations, yet Griffiths continued to accommodate them to avoid jeopardizing his mission. His efforts to resolve the crisis partially in Stockholm, focusing on Hodeida, initially seemed successful but quickly failed, worsening the humanitarian situation and allowing the Houthis to regain lost territories.

Grundberg's Struggles

Hans Grundberg, the fourth UN envoy to Yemen and former EU Ambassador to Yemen, faces significant challenges. Known for his active engagement, Grundberg's tenure has seen accusations of bias towards the Houthis, particularly after he urged the Yemeni government to halt currency stabilization measures. The Yemeni government insists on unifying the currency, resuming oil exports, and a comprehensive ceasefire, while the Houthis demand the reversal of central bank decisions. The government also emphasizes adherence to the three references: the Gulf Initiative, National Dialogue Conference outcomes, and UN Security Council Resolutions, which the Houthis reject.

Parallel Economic Warfare and Popular Discontent

The economic war between the Yemeni government and the Houthis has intensified, exacerbating the financial crisis. Public anger is growing, with many perceiving Grundberg's requests to delay currency stabilization as UN bias towards the Houthis. This perception threatens to undermine UN peace efforts and diminishes hopes for a peaceful resolution after years of deadly conflict in Yemen.