Credit:  osesgy.unmissions.org / The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS  –  Recent infighting around the Government stronghold of Aden were “a clear sign” that the bloody conflict in Yemen must be brought to a swift, peaceful end,  the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths told the Security Council Tuesday.  The UN envoy also warned  that fragmentation Of Yemen risks expanding humanitarian crisis in the nation located in southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.  In 2015, Saudi Arabia initiated a bombing campaign against its southern neighbor Yemen in what was essentially a proxy war — the Saudis backed a government that had been forced out of the capital by the Houthis, a group allied with Iran. The war in Yemen continues — in part with bombs the Saudi-led coalition of countries bought from the U.S.  From 7 to 10 August 2019, fighting between southern separatists and Yemeni government troops, who have been nominally allied as part of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition against the Houthi rebel group, resulted in separatists taking control of Aden, Yemen’s interim capital since 2015. Tensions had been building since 1 August when a ballistic missile reportedly fired by the Houthis struck the al-Galaa base in Aden during a military parade of the Security Belt, a southern militia trained and paid by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to sources. 

A continuation of this current situation is simply untenable”, Special Envoy Griffiths said via video-link from Amman, Jordan, referring to a series of clashes in the port city this month between formerly-allied separatists and pro-Government forces that have led to dozens of civilian deaths and injuries to hundreds of others. Griffiths also  warned about a possible resurgence of violence involving extremist groups that might further fragment the security sector in Aden and other areas, impacting civilians and prospects for future stability.  Much of the discussion in the UN Security Council meeting  focused on Aden.  From 7 to 10 August, fighting between southern separatists and Yemeni government troops, who have been nominally allied as part of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition against the Houthi rebel group, resulted in separatists taking control of Aden, Yemen’s interim capital since 2015.

The UN envoy condemned “the unacceptable efforts by the Southern Transitional Council to take control of State institutions by force” and deplored “the harassment of Yemenis of northern origin in Aden, such as through physical violence, forced displacement and denial of freedom of movement, including targeting of Government officials and supporters”.

American Yemenis Rally in New York in Support of Southern Yemen Separatists

Credit: By Gary Raynaldo /  2 Yemens Is Better Than 1 War,  the protesters contend at a rally in front of United Nations world headquarters in New York Aug. 19, 2019.   Many proudly waved the old South Yemen flag during a rally to support the Southern Transitional Council. 

“Two Yemens Is Better Than One War” read a placard being held by a protester rallying Monday in support of Southern Separatists in the war-torn  Arabian Peninsula nation of Yemen.  The Southern Separatists Movement, or South Yemen Movement, is a political movement and paramilitary organization active in the south of Yemen since 2007, demanding  secession from the  Republic of Yemen and a return to the former independent state of South Yemen.  Its political branch, the Southern Transitional Council led by Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, is the de facto leadership in all provinces of the south.  Hundreds of supporters of Southern Separatists rallied in front of the United Nations Monday.