Despite the sincere efforts of the United Nations, the Yemen crisis is not ended. All the efforts to put an end to the Yemen crisis failed. Recent developments in Southern Yemen have further deteriorated the situation. This article gives a deep analysis of the ongoing crisis in the Arabian Peninsula. Government Forces of Yemen have taken the control of Aden airport from the Southern separatists. Information Minister Moammar al- Eryani said that government forces have taken control of Aden airport. He said this on a twitter post. He further claimed that government troops are securing other districts in Aden. These parts of Aden were previously snatched by separatists loyal to UAE backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
RushHourDaily says that Government troops invaded eastern Aden on Wednesday. Heavy artillery was used by both sides. The separatists were demanding the self-rule in Southern Yemen. At the start of this week, the Yemeni troops snatched the control of Zinjibar from the Southern separatists. Zinjibar is the capital of Yemen’s province Abyan. This success of Yemeni troops secured the oil-rich Shabwa province.
In 2015, Mansour Hadi and southern separatists were allies against the Houthi rebels. Hadi’s government from Capital Sanaa was removed by Houthi rebels in 2014. Hadi’s administration had to shift to Aden in 2014.
In July Houthi rebels attacked a party of troops associated with the southern separatists. Southern separatists blamed that Hadi’s forces helped Houthis in this attack. After the differences, separatists captured the key areas of Aden.
The conflict exposed a tussle between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The UAE withdrew the majority of its troops from Yemen in June. However, the UAE is still supporting the southern separatists.
Houthi rebels say they want an intra-Yemen dialogue without any external interference.
Experts believe that Saudi Arabia wants to settle the dispute between Hadi’s troops and southern rebels. Saudi Arabia wants to focus on the fight against the Houthi rebels. Currently, Houthi rebels are administering the Sanaa and important areas in northern Yemen.
President Hadi says that the government will not negotiate until separatists leave the key centers in Aden.
The crisis in southern Yemen has also blocked the UNO’s efforts to neutralize the tensions. The Yemen crisis resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of people. Meanwhile, the country is also facing a famine.
Here it must be noted that Southern and Northern Yemen were separate states till 1990. In 1990 South and North united to form a “United Yemen”. In 1994 a secession attempt was foiled by the then Yemeni government.
Conclusively we can say that the Yemen crisis is getting worsened by every passing day. Saudi Arabia is facing intense pressure from the international community and human rights organizations. However, Saudi Arabia seems worried about the dual behavior of the UAE. The UAE has managed to give important areas of Southern Yemen to the separatists. Saudi defense analysts believe that an immediate withdrawal will result in the disintegration of Yemen. A dismembered Yemen is not in the interest of Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies.
The United Nations seems helpless in Yemen. New insurgencies and armed clashes have destroyed the lives of common people. Experts believe that an immediate withdrawal of Saudi forces will create a power vacuum and Yemen can go into the hands of extremist ideologists of Houthis or southern separatists. Without Saudi support, Mansour Hadi is not in a position to rule Yemen. Saudi experts opine that the UAE deceived KSA by giving a free hand to STC and its affiliated southern separatists.
