South Yemen Talks Stall, Sides Prepare to Resume Fighting

Saudi-sponsored talks meant to reconcile the Saudi-backed Yemen government and the UAE-backed South Yemen separatists have stalled with no sign of a deal or any progress, and indications are that both sides are preparing to resume fighting.

This is perhaps unsurprising, as the Saudis opened the talks with demands for the separatists to cede control of Aden, their capital city and the only major territory they still control. This was a non-starter.

There was never any sign from either side that a compromise was possible on Aden. The separatists have vowed to retain control of Aden as part of liberating the whole of South Yemen, while the Saudis threatened to use “decisive force” against them to retake the city militarily.

All this means is that the talks amounted to a chance for both sides to reiterate their unwillingness to surrender to the other side. They thus ended the only way they were ever going to, without a deal.