Continuous Efforts; Will Oman Succeed in Resolving the Yemeni Crisis?

In recent weeks, the Sultanate of Oman has conducted intensive diplomatic moves, in order to reach a solution that ends the Yemeni crisis, which has lasted for more than 7 years, and led to the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

The continuous Omani efforts come through coordination and communication for convergence of views between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia on the one hand, and the Houthi group and its supporters on the other hand, with taking care to maintain good relations with all parties.

On June 15, 2021, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said, the Omani mediation efforts are making progress, this was after the arrival of his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, to the Omani capital, Muscat, on an official visit.

According to the Omani News Agency, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq received an oral message from Saudi King Salman bin Abdelaziz, it relates to fraternal relations and cooperation between the two brotherly countries and peoples, and the prospects for their enhancement and development.

This message comes days after a similar message sent by the Sultan of Oman to King Salman, in it, he informed him of the developments of negotiations and discussions with representatives of “Al-Houthi” residing in Muscat.

In parallel, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak met on June 10 in Muscat with his Omani counterpart Al-Busaidi.

Bin Mubarak confirmed the legitimate government's keenness to exchange views with officials in the Sultanate, and pushing forward to achieve peace in Yemen, as the main demand of the government, in return for the intransigence of the Houthi militia and its total rejection of peace.

The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “Minister Al-Busaidi received a phone call from his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, and they discussed the developments of the Yemeni crisis, they confirmed the importance of intensifying efforts to reach an end of the war; to make room for a peaceful solution, they also confirmed the importance and priority of the entry of humanitarian and living materials for the Yemeni people”.

On June 5, 2021, an Omani sultan delegation visited the capital, Sana'a, it is the first visit since the Houthi coup against the state in September 2014, they held talks with the group in which they discussed ceasefire proposals, and re-normalization of life in Yemeni cities, and Sana'a in particular.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Sanaa stated that “rearranging the diplomatic situation and communicating with Muscat is among the agenda of the Omani delegation, because Oman has not had a diplomatic representation in Sanaa for years”.

However, the political council of the Houthi group stated in a statement after the visit that the Omani delegation's talks with the group, focused on the initiative presented by the United Nations to resolve the Yemeni crisis, and discussed issues related to the humanitarian file, it praised the efforts of the Sultanate of Oman to bring peace to Yemen.

The Houthi spokesman, Muhammad Abd al-Salam, said in a tweet by his Twitter account, that the visit of a delegation from the Omani Royal Office with the Houthi delegation to Sana'a aims to arrange the humanitarian situation and pushing the peace process forward.

On June 10, 2021, the Saudi-led coalition announced the suspension of its military operations in the vicinity of Sanaa and other Yemeni cities, in order to “create the political atmosphere for the peaceful path”, in conjunction with news of the reopening of Sanaa Airport and its preparation to receive international flights, after stopping more than 5 years ago.

The France Press Agency quoted a statement by the coalition spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, in which he said: “The coalition decided not to carry out any operation, with the aim of creating the political atmosphere for the peaceful path”, in conjunction with diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations, Washington and regional capitals, to reach a ceasefire between the parties to the conflict.

Despite media reports that Oman has achieved a breakthrough in the path of the crisis, and it was able to converge views between the conflicting parties in Yemen, others denied this.

Yemeni journalist Faris Al-Hamiri tweeted: “The discussions of the Omani delegation in Sana'a did not make progress regarding the ceasefire, where the Houthis stipulated the opening of Sanaa airport and lifting restrictions on the port of Hodeida, then there is a ceasefire, contrary to the international proposal supported by the government, it stipulates that the ceasefire synchronizes with the reopening of Sanaa airport, and lifting restrictions on the port of Hodeida.

In an interview with “Al-Estiklal”, writer and political analyst Yassin Al-Tamimi said: “The main objective of the Omani delegation’s visit was to obtain clear and specific answers by the Houthi group, its leadership, and the parties supporting it, represented by the IRGC officer in Yemen, Hassan Erlo”.

Al-Tamimi explained that “the cease-fire was the issue on which the talks of the Royal Omani delegation revolved, the delegation raised this demand and expressed its fears of a change in the international position towards the Houthis, this prompted a person close to the Omani government to issue unprecedented warnings to the Houthis, about the risks of not seizing this opportunity”.

 Al-Tamimi pointed out that “it was clear that the Houthis were not ready to accept a ceasefire, they justified their lack of readiness for this issue by making arrangements for the humanitarian situation, in order to take advantage of this issue in keeping the conflict equation in their favor, the humanitarian crisis appears as a result of the blockade imposed by the coalition on the sea, air and land ports under the control of the Houthis”.

 

The Yemeni writer confirmed that “the Houthi group seeks to exploit the international community's desire to end the conflict, get a free recognition of its sovereignty over the territories it controls, and full control over the powers of the legitimate authority in managing the sea, air and land ports, these are demands that cannot be accepted, which the Omani delegation spared no effort in resisting these demands”.

Al-Tamimi continued: “It can be said that the Omani delegation formed a clear picture of the peace path that the Houthis see, concessions that can be made, which they will pass on to the Saudi and Yemeni governments and the American mediator, this is the reason why some Omani sources insist on saying, mediation is progressing positively, on the verge of reaching its goals”.

It is worth noting that the Houthi group has a delegation permanently residing in Muscat, it is headed by the group's spokesman, Muhammad Abd al-Salam, the Omani authorities are facilitating the Houthi delegation's meeting with foreign diplomatic missions.

In addition to Oman playing a mediating role in the Yemen crisis, it delivers the messages sent by the administration of US President Joe Biden to the Houthi group.

It does not seem that reaching a comprehensive settlement that ends the war is easy, this is because the Houthi group is contesting the legitimacy of the internationally recognized government, it tries to pull the rug out from under its feet, and any truce between the conflicting parties is liable to collapse.