Saudi-led Arab coalition announces two-week ceasefire in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has declared a comprehensive ceasefire for two weeks, starting on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

The two-week period is subject to extension, the official spokesman of the coalition Colonel Turki Al-Malki said.

“Based on its previous announcement on March 25, 2020, the coalition supported the Yemeni government’s decision to accept the United Nations Secretary General’s call to a ceasefire in Yemen in order to counter the spread of the Covid-19 Pandemic,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.

The UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths is seeking to de-escalate tensions and implement confidence building measures between different parties, while focusing on humanitarian and economic development.

“The two week period is subject to extension to allow for appropriate conditions to implement the UN envoy’s call for a UN sponsored meeting between the legitimate government of Yemen, the Houthis, and military representatives from the coalition to discuss his proposals on steps and mechanisms to implement a permanent ceasefire in Yemen, confidence building measures on humanitarian and economic sides, and to resume the political process between Yemeni parties in order to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen,” Al Maliki added.

The coalition hopes “unite all efforts to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Yemen, and agree on serious, concrete and direct steps” to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and maintain their health and safety, he said.

It will “support all efforts to reach a fair and comprehensive political solution agreed upon by all Yemenis”, he added.

Griffiths welcomed the move and urged all the parties to reach an agreement in the “very near future”.

There have been no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Yemen so far.