Yemen Monitor / Sana’a / Exclusive:
The armed Houthi group on Saturday rejected what it described as international pressure demanding the release of UN staff members detained by the movement, whom it accuses of spying for the United States and the Israeli occupation.
The Houthi-controlled news agency reported that the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the movement’s government (which is not internationally recognized), Abdulwahid Abu Ras, met in Sana’a with the Director of the Office of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen, Mohamed Al-Ghannam, to discuss areas of cooperation and outstanding issues, amid escalating tensions left by the file of detaining UN staff in Sana’a.
During the meeting, the official in the Houthi group’s authority expressed his absolute rejection of the press statement issued by the UN Security Council and the statement attributed to the UN Secretary-General, both of which condemned the detention of UN employees on espionage-related charges.
The Houthi official emphasized “that this file is being handled in accordance with the applicable laws and judicial procedures, and in a manner that ensures the preservation of national security and sovereignty.”
He stated that “international pressure will not change Sana’a’s stance,” warning that this “pressure will negatively impact relations with the international organization and undermine efforts to rebuild trust between the two sides.”
For his part, the Director of the UN Envoy’s Office, Mohamed Al-Ghannam, reaffirmed the office’s commitment to continuing diplomatic efforts and endeavors aimed at bridging viewpoints and achieving peace and stability in Yemen.
On Thursday, the UN Secretary-General renewed his condemnation of the detention by the Houthi de facto authorities of dozens of staff members working for the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions in Yemen, coinciding with the passage of two years since the detention of some of them.
This meeting comes at a time when relations between Sana’a authorities and the United Nations are witnessing noticeable tension following a campaign of arrests that targeted dozens of employees of UN agencies, as well as international and local organizations in Houthi-controlled areas, under allegations of their connection to a “spy network.” This step has faced widespread UN and international condemnation, alongside continuous demands for their immediate and unconditional release.
