Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has rejected yet again the latest peace proposal presented by the UN special envoy to end the war with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, arguing that accepting it will lead to a “dangerous precedent” that legitimises armed uprisings against elected governments. 

Hadi, who heads the legitimate government in Yemen, has good reason to argue against the plan, which has not been officially released, but international news agencies report that it would see the president turning over power to a vice president that all parties of the conflict agree on.

The plan also stipulates that former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Al Houthi, whose militias are allied against the internationally recognised government, must “leave political life and leave the country with their families into self-imposed exile for a period of at least 10 years”.

Hadi has said he would only give way to an elected leader

More than 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 37,000 wounded in Yemen’s conflict, which started in 2014.

In addition to the heavy destruction sustained in urban areas of the country, the conflict’s main victims have been unarmed civilians who were caught in the middle between the two opposing forces. Moreover, many Yemenis are at a threat of starving to death, relief organisations have warned, while the country’s economy has taken a heavy blow and it could take it at least three years to fully recover.

There is no doubt that the war must end and end fast on the basis of equitable and reasonable compromises by both sides to the conflict. 

While the proposed peace plan has been endorsed by the US and the UK, and Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia and the UAE also appear to support it, the problem stems from the fact that it is wholly dependent on good faith and trust between the two sides of the conflict, something which is completely lacking. 

This required trust is nowhere to be seen or found after all the killings and destruction.

The fact that Hadi’s government remains the only legitimate government in the country that enjoys international recognition and support is not being taken into consideration in the UN plan. 

Giving major concessions to the Houthis now would be tantamount to rewarding them for their attempt to change the legitimate government by force.

A better formula for ending the conflict is to declare a truce for an extended period of time, during which free and fair legislative elections could be conducted under UN supervision. 

The newly elected parliament would then elect a new president, who in turn would name the new prime minister. 

As everything currently stands, it is hard to believe that Houthis and their surrogates are in the mood for genuine compromises, but the goal of peace is worth giving an amended peace plan a shot.