Throughout January, efforts to renew the UN-sponsored peace process were met with mixed results, as the volatile power dynamics in Sana’a and Aden followed different trajectories. In Sana’a, the Houthi/GPC government further stabilized following the death of Ali Abdullah Saleh. The GPC-Sana’a confirmed its new president, the UN deputy envoy held meetings in Sana’a, and the Houthi delegation head travelled to Muscat for talks with UN officials. In Aden, the UAE-sponsored Southern Transitional Council and Security Belt Forces clashed with forces loyal to President Hadi, in what the government labelled a “failed coup attempt.” Saudi mediation brought a ceasefire days later, but the tension remains and the inclusion of southern separatists in the political process is likely to be a key point of contention moving forward.
