Five years into the Saudi invasion of Yemen, Saudi newspaper Okaz has broached a subject that previously no one within the country has raised, whether everyone might not be better off replacing Yemen’s Hadi government.
Since reinstalling Hadi was the whole stated point of the Saudi invasion, this was clearly never brought up before. It perhaps should have, since Hadi’s electoral mandate, involving a rigged election, ended six years ago.
The Okaz editorial argued that Hadi’s coalition is a burden on both Yemen and the invading coalition, with much of its leadership in Riyadh, and more than a few officials working with rival factions.
Whether this amounts to a test balloon by the Saudi government or just an Okaz editorial isn’t clear. It would be unusual, even for a private Saudi newspaper, to bring this up however if it wasn’t at least under consideration.
As for the process, other factors may include that the Saudis aren’t allowing certain members of the Hadi government out of Riyadh, and Hadi himself has been described as effectively under house arrest in Saudi Arabia at times. The Hadi government at times undermines the Saudis’ negotiations on peace deals, however, and with the war dragging on far beyond expectations, the Saudi Kingdom may believe it simpler to just “settle” the matter instead of continuing to work toward reinstalling someone who is at best a dubious ruler.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a74f56c15c09a0b2f2551ae43e346abd33eda9b445375d29e2aeed9041a9e415.jpg
can’t wait for another exciting and thrilling election out of yemen.
But if you rule out all the “at best dubious rulers,” with the slightest pretense of legitimacy, who will be left to dictate how the average person lives and which neighboring countries to endlessly attack?
The games of shadows crashing on the rocks of reality. First it was UAE getting US mercenaries to sweep Saudi sponsored Government of fictional one country that was Yemen. And sweep the coastal area, keeping Saudi Arabia out. But Saudis were not about to be dislodged. They persisted in keeping North Yemen their focus for returning Hadi government and in spite of US wiggling into the port of Hodeidah via a compliant UN officialdom — never allowed US to settle the matter. Then Kashoggi came and Saudi MBS got internally stronger in its wake. The upshot was — UAE got the message loud and clear. No more challenging Saudis in Yemen. Bad news for US, that changed the tack and invited Houthis for a chat in Oman. Saudis were to be tripped every step of the way — be that unhappy secessionists or Houthi missiles and drones.
And what is this all for anyway? Why is US determined to keep its fingers in this pie? It is because of the control of Yemeni coast. What would give US control of Bab Al Mandeb — Straits that control access to Red Sea, major European to Asian sea routes, as well as access to some Saudi oil export. For US it has always been about the Straits. Hadi is supposed to represent claim to unified North-South government. Without him, deal can be struck separately with Houthis and Southern secessionists. Saudis are having more success in the South, and this may be the reason for being in position to settle with the North.
The question remains, will US be satisfied with the outcome?