Egypt welcomes extension of UN-mediated truce in Yemen

CAIRO – 4 August 2022: Egypt welcomed the UN announcement of the extension of the truce between the conflicting parties in Yemen for two more months until October 2, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement on Thursday.

Egypt has hoped that the extension of the truce will contribute to reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Yemeni crisis and support initiatives for a political solution that preserves Yemen's unity and independence, the statement added.

“The extension includes a commitment by the Government and Houthi rebels to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded agreement as soon as possible,” the UN said on August 2.

In April 2022, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi conceded power to the eight-member PLC led by Alimi in an effort to stabilize the country and face the Houthis.

Since then, Yemen has seen a relatively quiet situation in light of a UN-sponsored truce between the internationally recognized Yemeni government that is backed by Saudi Arabia; and the Houthis, who have been fighting since 2015.

Egypt welcomed the truce that was reached on April 2 and then extended for two more months on June 2, expressing hope that this truce would contribute to supporting political solutions.

In May, Head of the eight-member council (PLC) Rashad Al-Alimi praised Egypt's efforts, under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to host thousands of Yemenis amid the ongoing war, Yemen News Agency (SABA) reported.

In the same month, Egypt announced allowing direct flights between Cairo and Sanaa for the first time since the conflict started, a step that has been hailed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Early in June, US President Joe Biden hailed the role played by Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia in making the UN-led truce in war-torn Yemen possible.

In a statement on the UN-mediated truce extension in Yemen, Biden commended the decision made by Egypt and Jordan to open their airports to flights from Yemen “thereby enabling a key component of the truce process”.