Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, April 25th, 2024

Yemen Crisis Pleads Political Solution

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Yemen Crisis Pleads Political Solution

The beginning of twenty first century witnessed catastrophic human casualties; more than 1.5 million people lost their lives during mid of first quarter of the century in Middle Eastern (Iraq, Syria and Palestine) and South Asian states (Pakistan and Afghanistan). With exception to the aforesaid some other states in Africa (Nigeria) and (Ukraine) in Southeastern Europe too, run across socio-political turmoil that led to human calamities. The stream of blood is flowing down the streets of Middle East where a group of fellowman tries to subjugate the other in the quest for dominance of the ideals superior, divine and inimitable to them. Following the golden principles of equity of deeds in war and love, the renowned group relies to every extreme means that could more effectively serve their vested interests. The militants groups resort to every deed that could wreak great losses to their confronting opponents.

The flare of blast-off ongoing loud in the aforesaid countries subsided not, the Middle East took to another military expedition in Yemen. The emerging crisis of Yemen beleaguered the bloodletting of ISIS underway in Iraq and Syria. In order to restrict the advances of Hauthis, Saudi Arabia took military expedition by launching aerial raids that led human causalities inhabiting in different camps. According to international media earlier warplanes carried out a fifth night of air strikes around the capital Sana that led several casualties. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) an air strike killed 45 people at a camp for displaced people in northwest Yemen, previously. Likewise, the Doctors without Borders (MSF) reported score of bodies and injured people were taken to hospital that operates near the camp.

On the other hand Arab states led by Saudi Arabia pledge their allegiance with the kingdom vowed to support the ongoing aerial operation against the Hauthi rebels who are said to have advanced towards the capital Sana. Formerly the meeting of Arab League took place in Sharm el Shaikh where the members of Arab League, Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan and most of the Gulf monarchies, have thrown their support behind a Saudi Arabia-led campaign of airstrikes to counter advances Houthi movement in Yemen; Washington is providing only intelligence and logistical support, but Saudi Arabia is leading the bombing while Egypt, with the largest Arab army, has pledged to send ground troops “if necessary.” Speaking at the same meeting, Nabil el-Araby, the secretary general of the Arab League, vowed that the Saudi-led airstrikes against the Houthi movement would continue until the Houthis had surrendered, and apparently closes the window for negotiation to a prompt end to the violence.

The center of gravity of international media shifted to discuss the Yemen’s crisis, with host speakers’ found favoring the side they share ideology and interest with. It should be remember one shouldn’t display favoritism on any ground. Muslim media particularly must exercise a rational broadcast in the bid to mend the differences instead of widening them. It’s the course to pave the way for political and congenial solution.

Following through the root of crisis, primarily it’s more about bad governance and rampant corruption that simmered to turn violent by the end of the day. According to the 2009 international corruption Perception Index by Transparency International, Yemen ranked 164 out of 182 countries surveyed. In the absence of strong state institutions, elite politics in Yemen constituted a de facto form of collaborative governance, where competing tribal, regional, religious and political interests agreed to hold themselves in check through tacit acceptance of the balance it produced. The misuse of power and politics rendered some factions powerful and influential, discerning many others. These discriminatory policies by central government yielded some rebellion against it. It is said that the group seek political support from Iran. The Houthi movement, which originated in the north of Yemen and follows a version of Shiite Islam, has seized control of the country’s capital, Sana, and other large cities in part by allying itself with military and security forces still loyal to Yemen’s former strongman, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Mr. Saleh was removed in 2012, after an Arab Spring uprising, in a transitional deal brokered by Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states. The Houthis have previously fought as many as a half-dozen different civil conflicts against Yemen’s central government. None of the previous battles have succeeded in eliminating or fully disarming the movement.

There is only a political solution to the situation in Yemen. The intervention tempts to intensify the existing dilemma escalating the sectarian tension across the Muslim world which may inflict irreparable losses in Muslim societies. The intent that foreign intervention to back a legitimate government, doesn’t serve the interest of Yemenis is futile exercise. Every state prior to partaking in military intervention in Yemen must ponder that would only produce disparity and widen the chasm of hatred amongst Muslims’ sect. It should be learned that the political solution cannot be hatched outside Yemen, it has to be a homegrown political solution, and otherwise it has no future. As witnessed the hapless president Hadi does not have enough strength within Yemen to tip the balance in his favor, even to stand his ground and defend his little enclave in Aden. Henceforth, all the main players on the ground in Yemen should be taken on board to carve an agreeable solution to the problem.

At present, the Houthis are not the only player, but the army sections that are loyal to the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh are another important player. There are plenty within the Yemeni army - the Special Forces, the Air Force and many sectors of the military - that are still loyal to Saleh and they are the ones spearheading the fight right now against Saudi Arabia. The only political solutions one can rely on is broad based consensus developed between the disputing factions which should unnecessarily include not just the elite forces of the former regime and their armed opponents and the Saudi and US appointed replacements, but the people representing the majority of the Yemenis themselves. This is a credible course to end up the endless bloodshed of fellowmen and turn the world a peaceful place to live in.

Asmatyari is permanent writer of Daily outlook Afghanistan. He can be reached at asmatyari@gmail.com

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