War-ravaged Yemen gets a truce and dumps a tired president
But the lull may not last and the new government holds little sway
SOON AFTER iftar, the fast-breaking meal during Ramadan, a group of influential Yemenis was summoned to the Saudi royal court. They were in Riyadh on April 6th for peace talks to help end Yemen’s long war. But there was little to discuss: the Houthis, a rugged Shia group from northern Yemen who have conquered much of the country (see map), refused to attend, saying they would talk only in a neutral country. Instead the peace conference became a venue for palace intrigue. The balance of power continues to shift against the Saudis and their Yemeni allies. But a lasting peace remains elusive.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Hope against hope for a lasting peace”
Middle East & Africa April 16th 2022
From the April 16th 2022 edition
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