Yemen

Failure to renew and extend the UN-brokered ceasefire between the Yemeni government and the Houthis has led to fears of further violence. Fighting purportedly recommenced hours after the truce came to an end on 2 October, and an attack on an oil port by the Houthis on 21 October has drawn regional condemnation. The ceasefire, which had commenced on 2 April 2022, was the longest pause in fighting over the 7-year conflict. It led to a reported reduction in civilian casualties and displacements, and an improvement in civilian access to basic services and economic opportunities - although political violence continued throughout the ceasefire. 

Houthi Movement

A Supreme Court judge was abducted and killed in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, by an armed group connected to the Houthi movement, according to the Yemeni government. Judges and administrative workers have suspended court operations in protest over the killing, demanding that those involved be charged. The killing is one of a series of violent incidents against members of the judiciary that occurred within a week between the end of August and early September 2022. Attacks against the judiciary over the course of the 7-year conflict have been documented in the 2020 Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, but the Yemen Judges Club has warned of escalation if an appropriate response to these latest incidents is not taken.

Supreme Court Houthi Movement Intrastate War

The Yemeni government and Houthis agreed to a second two-month extension to the United Nations (UN)-brokered ceasefire that commenced on 2 April 2022. According to the UN, the pause in fighting, the longest in the conflict, has led to a 60 per cent reduction in civilian casualties, although there has been an increase in the number of children killed. The UN also reported a 50 per cent reduction in displacements. Flights continue to go through the recently reopened international airport in Sana’a and fuel imports have significantly increased, resulting in improved access to healthcare and other public services. However, the Houthi's commitment under the agreement to reopen roads, including those leading to the long-besieged city of Taiz, is yet to be implemented. According to analysis from the Middle East Institute, the future of the ceasefire remains precarious, with the Houthis reported to be using it to prepare for a continuation of the conflict.

Houthi Movement