Houthi militias obstructed on Monday the pullout from the two small ports of Saleef and Ras Issa, as a first step agreed with the internationally recognized government to implement a peace deal struck in the Swedish capital last December on the Red Sea city of Hodeidah.
“Houthis did not respect a deal stipulating that militias withdraw their forces five kilometers from the ports of Saleef and Ras Issa as the first phase of implementing the Stockholm Agreement,” Hodeidah governor al-Hassan Tahir told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday.
In addition to the withdrawal of Houthis, the deal also stipulates that legitimate forces withdraw one kilometer away from Hodeidah’s “Kilo 7” eastern suburb, as a first step agreed with the internationally recognized government.
The pull back should have come simultaneously with demining operations.
Yemen’s legitimate government had previously confirmed it would not start redeploying until the insurgents evacuate the two small ports.
“Militias are reluctant to implement the deal,” Tahir said, adding that since their coup against the legitimate government, Houthis have failed to meet their pledges or respect deals reached with the international community.
It is not clear why Houthis hindered the redeployment process on Monday, although militia leaders had told the press that they respect the deal and should support the efforts of the head of the UN observer mission in Yemen, Danish former general Michael Lollesgaard.
The governor said that as agreed, legitimate government representatives from the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) would head on Tuesday to the Red Sea Mills to meet with Lollesgaard to arrange the transfer of grain stores for their distribution.
The first phase of the Stockholm Agreement was supposed to be followed by a second phase as forces pull back from the city of Hodeidah and its ports.
Meanwhile, Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi met on Monday Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on the sideline of the EU-Arab League summit held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
Hadi praised the Swedish support for achieving peace in Yemen including hosting the consultations that produced the Stockholm Agreement.
He said that he had directed the government to react positively to the Agreement despite the fact that the Houthis have been deliberately delaying and paralyzing the deal.
For his part, the Swedish official appreciated Hadi's efforts and affirmed his government's commitment towards Yemen and helping the country overcome its crisis.
