Vice President Joe Biden welcomed Yemen’s newly elected President to the White House in 2012, while the US praised my homeland for its “historic and peaceful transfer of power.” Yemenis have endorsed a roadmap to inclusive, accountable democracy.
It was ambitious, but we were determined and we knew we had a partner in US President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi who led a national dialogue with political parties, tribal envoys, regional representatives, union leaders, women and youth. We drafted a constitution and made plans for new elections.
We Yemenis have learned the price of a collapsed democratic transition the hard way. In 2014, armed Houthi factions, backed by Iran, seized power and plunged Yemen into civil war. The Houthis have attacked civilian targets, including schools, mosques, airports and parades. They have fired drones and ballistic missiles at neighboring countries, and have collaborated with US-designated terrorist groups such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah. Last week we learned that they are still hindering international efforts to save the FSO Safer oil tanker and prevent an environmental catastrophe.
Sadly, much of Congress’s attention – particularly among the Democrats – has focused not on the Houthis, but on the Arab countries striving to restore Yemen’s legitimate government in line with multiple UN resolutions.
We welcome President Biden’s desire to accelerate a negotiated settlement, even after the announcement of the end of US aid for the coalition’s “offensive” operations.