UN Drafting New Peace Plan for Yemen

The plan drafted by Griffiths, who will present a “framework for negotiations” in Yemen by mid-June, includes initiatives to end a Saudi-led bombing campaign against Yemenis, which has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

A draft document seen by Reuters and confirmed by two sources familiar with the issue says that as a step toward new security arrangements, “heavy and medium weapons including ballistic missiles shall be handed over by non-state military actors in an orderly and planned fashion.”

“No armed groups shall be exempt from disarmament,” it says.

The document also cites plans to create a transitional government, in which “political components shall be adequately represented.”

“The intention is to link security and political aspects starting with a cessation of fighting...then to move towards a withdrawal of forces and the formation of a national unity government. This last objective could possibly be the hardest,” Reuters quoted one of the sources as saying.

An official with Houthi Ansarullah Movement has reportedly welcomed the UN efforts, describing a ceasefire as the first building block in the political process.

“Our optimism will be determined by how serious and respectful the other parties are of the UN role,” the official said, noting that previous truces had failed.

Issues such as constitutional and electoral processes, and reconciliation among the sides would be dealt with later as part of a transition agenda, the document said.

Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies have been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthi Ansarullah movement in Yemen in an attempt to restore power to fugitive former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.

Over 14,000 Yemenis, including women and children, have died in the deadly military campaign.