Middle School Model United Nations 2017 |5th – 6th of May 2017 Forum: Security Council Issue: The Question of Yemen Student Officer: Humna Shahzad Position: Deputy President Introduction Yemen being an Arab country in the middle east, wasn’t always like the country we know today, actually it was quite recently formed in 1990 when the south and the north of Yemen decided to join together after it was spit during the cold war. Since then, Yemen have been facing conflict between the government and the group known as The Houthi. But the situation reached its extreme when the protests led to the president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to resign in 2011, making his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to take over the country. However after this, the country still struggled to keep peace within the country. The country descended into civil war in 2015, as The Houthi took over the capital city of Yemen called Sanaa. The civil war still continues to this day. The main fighting is between the forces of President Adbrubbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthi rebels which is supported by Ali Abdullah Saleh. This situation was not helped by Yemen economic state right now, Yemen being one of the Arab poorest countries which lead to problems such as corruption, unemployment and so on. This war caused the death of more than 6800 innocent civilians and 35000 civilians have been injured since March 2015.The war has also caused a humanitarian crisis, leaving 80% of the population in need of aid. The president was able to escape to Saudi Arabia to ask for their help, when the Houthi rebels surrounded the president building and other governmental buildings. Saudi Arabia has launched several airstrikes in Yemen to help solve the issue, but then later the airstrikes were blamed for killing innocent civilians. Definition of Key Terms Houthi It is a political-religious movement, which was founded by Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi in the 1992.They are Zaidi Shia-led rebels from the north Research Report | Page 1 of 7 Middle School Model United Nations 2017 |5th – 6th of May 2017 Civil war A war between citizens of the same country. Rebels A group or a person that disagrees with the political systems and tries to change it with armed resistance Arab spring Anti-governmental protests that which spread across the Arab world in 2011. It originated from Tunisia and spread to areas such as Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordon. Ceasefire Temporary stopping in war when both sides suspend aggressive action, and usually peace talk takes place during a ceasefire Background Information Yemeni Crisis 2011-12 The Yemeni crisis began in the early of 2011 with outbreaks of protests known as the Arab spring, which included rebel groups such as the Houthis and the Southern Movement. The protests were about unemployment and against the corrupted Yemeni government, this situation got worst as the protests demanded the president at the time, Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign. Ali Abdullah decided to resign in November 2011, handing over the power to the deputy president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Mr. Hadi faced a range of problems such as attacks from Al-Qaeda as well as corruption, unemployment and food insecurity. The violence grew and then in 2014 the Houthi took over the capital of Yemen called Sana, which triggered a civil war. Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS) appeared stronger than ever, as the country faced a political crisis. In January 2015, The Houthis reinforced their takeover of Sanaa, surrounding the President palace and other key areas to place Mr. Hadi and ministers under house under arrest. The government massively resigned in 2015 and the Houthi dissolved the parliament, forming a Revolutionary Committee under the lead of Mohammad Ali al-Houthi. However the president was able to escape to the port city of Aden, to travel to Saudi Arabia. Research Report | Page 2 of 7 Middle School Model United Nations 2017 |5th – 6th of May 2017 Civil War 2015 Another civil war boke again in 2015.It was between two groups who believe to constitute the Yemeni government along with their supporters and allies. The Houthi joined with Ali Abdullah Saleh who are fighting against with the government of Abdrabbuh. Other groups such as the Islamic state of Iraq and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula attacked along the stretches of the coast. On 21st march after taking over the Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, the Houthi-led Supreme Revolutionary Committee declared that they will further try to take control over the south of Yemen. However this was did not succeed as the president, Mr. Hadi was able to escape to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia later launched military operations, which included airstrikes, and United States provided intelligence and logistical support for this operation. Major Countries and Organizations Involved Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has provided support to the Yemeni government, since the Houthi had taken over Sanaa. Saudi Arabia has launched several airstrikes over the Houthi rebels and the loyal forces to the last President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who resigned back in 2011 at the time of Arab Spring uprisings, since the current president flee to Saudi Arabia, after the Houthi have taken over the president palace and other government building. And so a military intervention was launched in 2015 known as the Operation Decisive Storm. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain also took part in the operation providing fighter jets and ground forces. Other counties such as Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia made their airspace, territorial waters and military bases were made available for this operation. Saudi Arabia also called Pakistan to join the operation but its government decided to remain neutral towards the issue. On 21st April 2015, Saudi Arabia called the end to the operation Decisive operation, and decided to launch a new operation called Operation Restoring Hope to help gain peace by switching from military operations to political process. However, the airstrikes launched by the Saudi Arabia were blamed for killing civilians, destroying health centres and other infrastructures. Blaming Saudi Arabia for the humanitarian crisis. United States of America The United States strongly supports Saudi Arabia, as the United States has been the supplier of Research Report | Page 3 of 7 Middle School Model United Nations 2017 |5th – 6th of May 2017 weapons to Saudi Arabia for decades providing intelligence and surveillance support for the Operation Decisive Storm. But it decided to reduce the support when the Saudi airstrikes were blamed for killing civilian and destroying infrastructures. The United States has used drones in Yemen to target the terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and it also sent American advisers to help possible troops from United Arab Emirates to battle Al-Qaeda. Iran Iran has being accused to supporting the Houthi as they are follow Shia Islam. Saudi Arabia and America claimed that the Houthis have been receiving weapons and training from Iran. In 2015 a UN report alleged that Iran provided the Houthi rebels with money, training, and arms shipments beginning in 2009, but it was completely denied by Iran. Timeline of Events Date Description of event April 29,2014 Yemeni forces launch operations against al-Qaeda August 1,2014 Resident Hadi sacks his cabinet September 18,2014 October 14,2014 Houthi rebels take control of the capital Sanaa November 7,2014 Houthis capture the strategic Red sea of Hudeida January 19,2015 Yemen announces new government January 22,2015 Houthis clash with troops in Sanaa February 7,2015 President Hadi resigns February 16,2016 Houthis take charge of government February 21,2015 UN security council denounced Houthi coup March 16,2015 President Hadi flees house arrest in Sanaa Houthis release Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and all his cabinet ministers Relevant UN Treaties and Events ● Middle Eastern Yemen Crisis Resolution, 14th April 2015 (2216) ● Yemen Transition Agreement (GCC deal),23th November 2011 Research Report | Page 4 of 7 Middle School Model United Nations 2017 |5th – 6th of May 2017 Previous Attempts to solve the Issue The UN tried to make the two opposing team negotiate the matter in Kuwait, which collapsed in August 2016.It was a political deal that the Houthi rebels would withdraw from the from Sanaa and hand over their heavy weapons to the military committee, which would be controlled by Hadi, the Yemen accepted the deal but the Houthi rebels rejected the deal. Other efforts were made, which did not last. On October 16 the UN announced a 72 hour long ceasefire, mainly for the purpose to supply humanitarian aid, but the fighting quickly resumed after the three day elapsed. Later a 48 hour long ceasefire took place in November 2016 which had the same results. Possible Solutions One of the main solution can be forming a treaty between the Houthi rebels and the government of Yemen. The agreement could state that the Houthi should withdraw from areas of land that it has taken over and should surrender their weapons to the Yemeni government and most important stop any conflict caused by the Houthi rebels. It can also include that the Houthi rebels will not be allowed to threaten any neighboring states, they will not be allowed to take control of any areas in Yemen or government building and the Houthi will not be allowed to keep anyone as prisoners. Or the last resort could be sanctions that can include seizing their general assets and arms. Saudi Arabia should be temporarily stopped from taking any military action in Yemen, as it can erupt another war in Yemen.