They arrived in the capital Sanaa to consult with the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported on Sunday. The talks are about “lifting the siege with all its consequences”. The aim is to end the aggression and restore the rights of the Yemeni people.
Riyadh officials wanted to talk “about progress in building peace in Yemen,” a Yemeni diplomat in the Gulf region said on Sunday. This was confirmed by a second diplomat.
Oman as a discreet intermediary
Mediators from Oman arrived in Sanaa on Saturday to discuss a new ceasefire between the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, a source at the airport said. Oman has gained a reputation as a discreet mediator in Gulf disputes, which often involve Iran.
Last year, the conflicting parties in Yemen agreed on a six-month ceasefire. However, the agreement expired at the beginning of October and was not renewed. Nevertheless, it is largely complied with.
Glimmer of hope for impoverished country
The consultations brokered by Oman are a ray of hope for impoverished Yemen and its war-stricken population. They were made possible by a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who are struggling for dominance in the region. A few weeks ago, the two rivals agreed to resume diplomatic relations.
In Yemen, Iran supports the Shia Houthi rebels, and Saudi Arabia leads a group of Sunni-leaning Gulf states that supports the government opposed by the Houthi. Tens of thousands of people were killed during the fighting. Yemen’s economy has collapsed. The population is threatened by famine. Around 80 percent of the people are dependent on international aid. United Nations peace efforts are ongoing in parallel to the talks brokered by Oman.
At the end of 2014, the Houthi rebels overthrew Saudi Arabian-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who they accused of corruption and mismanagement. In 2015, Saudi Arabia intervened in the conflict and forged an alliance of Sunni countries against the Houthis. The Saudi-backed government controls the south of the country, where Aden is located, while the Shia Houthi rebels control the north.
