'Saudi-Houthi secret talks' jeopardise legitimacy of Yemen's government

The Saudi-Houthi covert dialogue has been underway for two months.

Reuters news agency reported on March 15 that the two dynamos of the conflict in Yemen - Saudi Arabia and the Houthis - have been engaging in clandestine negotiations to wind up the bloody conflict which has driven the country to a catastrophic humanitarian level. 

 "There are consultations between the Houthis and the Saudis, without a representative of the internationally recognised government, and it is clear that there is a desire to go toward a comprehensive agreement," the agency quoted a Yemeni diplomat as saying.

Since March 2015, the oil-rich Arab Kingdom has been up to its neck in the morass of war-torn Yemen. It has been leading a military campaign to back the internationally recognised government against the Iran-allied Houthi militants who took over Yemen's capital in September of 2014 and toppled the government early 2015.

Amid the tragedies and losses due to this devastating war, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are reported to have approached one another to stem the bloodshed and push for peace

Now three years later, the military option has not yielded positive results as the war goes on unabated. Amid the tragedies and losses due to this devastating war, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are reported to have approached one another to stem the bloodshed and push for peace.

According to the cited sources, "Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam had been in direct communication with Saudi officials in Oman on a comprehensive solution to the conflict."

Such  a reported rapprochement is not the first to materialise.

In 2016, the Houthis and Saudi Arabia engaged in negotiations, but they led to nowhere save a shaky border ceasefire and captives swap.

Today, Saudi Arabia cries out for an exit from the quagmire in Yemen, and the Houthis are yearning for the war close. However, both sides persist the fighting in hope of meeting their goals or at least some of them. 

In 2016, the Houthis and Saudi Arabia engaged in negotiations, but they led to nowhere save a shaky border ceasefire and captives swap

'Prepared for peace,' say Houthis 

While these reported Houthi-Saudi secret talks dominate Yemen's local media and social networking sites, it remains unclear if these talks will bear fruit or not. 

Reacting to the circulation of the reports on their dialogue with Saudis, Saleh Al-Samad, the head of the Supreme Political Council, the Houthi-led highest authority in Sanaa, said: "Those who say Mohammed Abdul-Salam is in Saudi Arabia want to blackmail us. 

"We know Saudi Arabia is not prepared for peace, and its decision is not in its hand. Otherwise, we could have sat at the table and negotiate. But the decision is not in their hand." 

The three-year long war has debilitated Yemen, triggering a myriad of crises including a crippled economy, humanitarian ordeals and thousands of deaths. 

Such a tragic situation seems to lead the Houthis to adopt a peace-seeking speech. 

"If they want peace, we are prepared for peace, honouring peace which does not belittle the dignity of the Yemeni people. If they do not want peace, we are determined to continue our steadfastness," Al-Samad said. 

Not only do the Houthi group say they want peace, but also their regional backer, Iran.

Last week, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, stated in an interview with Pakistan's Geo television that his country is "willing to resolve differences with its Arab neighbours", displaying Tehran's preparedness to improve  ties with Saudi Arabia after two years of severing diplomatic relations. 

The Iranian foreign minister stated in an interview that his country is 'willing to resolve differences with its Arab neighbours'

'The fault' of the news agency

The Houthi-Saudi dialogue, if genuine, means that the legitimate government is no longer a key player in the political and military arenas in Yemen.

It also reveals that Saudi Arabia seems to have modified the objectives of its military campaign which began in 2015. One of the campaign's objectives was to restore the legitimate government and enable it to dominate the entire Yemen.

The Yemeni government has shown disbelief in the reported Saudi-Houthi dialogue. Such reports have raised the ire of Yemen's internationally recognised government and officials promptly denied any rapprochement between the Kingdom and the Houthis. 

Muamar Al-Eryani, the information minister, described Reuter's report on the Saudi-Houthi dialogue as "fabricated lies." He also called on the agency to apologise for the "fault."

Muamar Al-Eryani, the information minister, described the report on the Saudi-Houthi dialogue as 'fabricated lies'

The report appeared to shake the Yemeni government which is hinging on the Saudi-led coalition to defeat the Houthi militants and force them to hand over the territories and state weapons. 

Yemenis are aware that once the Arab coalition decides to turn its back on Yemen's government, this government will lose its power and influence. The coalition is the catalyst for the continuing war against the Houthis in Yemen.