The Houthi group accused the United States of obstructing the implementation of Yemen’s peace roadmap, asserting that Washington supports a version of peace that does not lead to internal conflicts. These comments were made on Tuesday by Hussein Al-Azzi, a member of the Houthi political office, and Jamal Amer, the foreign minister of the Houthi government, during a meeting with UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in the capital city of Sana’a.
Al-Azzi’s statements came after Grundberg’s arrival in Sana’a on Monday, where he urged the Houthis to take concrete and essential actions for advancing the peace process during his first visit to the city in over a year and a half. In response, Al-Azzi claimed that the US was preventing the legitimate Yemeni government from following the peace roadmap and linking commitments to the issue of Israel, which the Houthis deemed unacceptable.
The Houthi foreign minister, Amer, reiterated the group’s stance for a just and lasting peace, emphasising that the Houthi-led government in Sana’a remains united in its objectives while accusing the legitimate Yemeni government of being divided in its affiliations and loyalties to foreign powers. He also reaffirmed the Houthis’ readiness to sign the first phase of the peace roadmap.
Despite the Houthis’ accusations, Washington has not yet responded but has previously reaffirmed its commitment to peace in Yemen. The peace plan, however, remains unimplemented with both the Yemeni government and the Houthis accusing each other of hindering progress.
UN Special Envoy Grundberg’s visit coincides with escalating clashes in the Taiz governorate between government forces and the Houthis, threatening to end the two-year lull in military activity. Grundberg also held talks with Omani officials on the developments in the Yemeni crisis, and his recent visits reflect the ongoing challenges in securing a peace deal.
