Talks between representatives of the Houthi movement and the Saudis in Riyadh resulted in a positive outcome of the negotiations on a roadmap to support the peace process in Yemen, the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Houthi sources and media representatives said that after a five-day round of talks with Saudi officials on ending the eight-year conflict in Yemen, Houthi envoys left Riyadh on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister said after a meeting with a delegation of Houthis that the kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue between all warring parties in Yemen. Prince Khalid bin Salman posted on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter:
“I emphasised the Kingdom’s support for Yemen and reaffirmed our commitment to promoting dialogue among all parties to reach a comprehensive political solution under UN supervision.”
Some agreements have been reached on a number of sticking points, including the timing of the withdrawal of foreign troops from Yemen and the mechanism for paying public wages. Reuters also reports that the sides will meet for further talks after consultations “very soon”.
The Houthi delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia last week. It is the first official visit to the kingdom since the war in Yemen began in 2014, when an Iranian-backed group toppled the Saudi-backed government there.
The talks are aimed at the full reopening of the Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, the payment of salaries to government employees, reconstruction work, and a timeline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Yemen.
After an agreement is reached, the UN will be able to restart the broader political peace process. The Houthis have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and left 80 percent of Yemen’s population dependent on humanitarian aid.
