UNSC -ADOPTED -RESOLUTION 2201

UNSC adopted Resolution 2201 demanding Houthis withdrawal from Yemen’s government institutions

United Nation Security Council (UNSC) on 15 February 2015 adopted the Resolution 2201 demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Houthis from the government institutions of Yemen.

The resolution was brought after the UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon had warned the 15-member UNSC that Yemen was collapsing under the weight of a protracted political crisis, widespread attacks by Al-Qaida, increasing secessionist tendencies in the south and an acute humanitarian crisis.
Main Highlights of the Resolution

    The resolution demanded Houthis to safely release President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and all others from house arrest, and engage in good faith in UN-brokered negotiations designed to keep the fracturing Middle Eastern country on a steady path towards democratic transition.
    The Council strongly deplored actions by the Houthis, who had gained control of the capital Sana’a in September 2014, to dissolve parliament and take over Government institutions.
    The resolution urged all parties to agree upon and publicly announce dates for completing the constitutional consultation process, hold a referendum on the text and conduct elections under the new electoral law.
    It strongly called on all parties, in particular the Houthis, to abide by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, as well as the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement, which provided for a Yemeni-led democratic transition.
    The Council also demanded that all parties cease armed hostilities against the people and legitimate authorities of Yemen, and relinquish arms seized from military and security institutions. 
    Stressing the importance of the United Nations’ cooperation with international partners, the Council requested the Secretary-General to propose options for strengthening the office of the Special Adviser.
    It also called on Secretary-General to propose options on UN assistance for finalizing and adopting the Constitution in Yemen, carrying out electoral reform and holding general elections. 

Background

Yemen has been beset by unrest for months. The country has been marred by fights between Houthis militias and Yemen government.

The Houthis, who adhere to a branch of Shia Islam known as Zaidism, have staged periodic uprisings since 2004 in an effort to win greater autonomy for their northern heartland of Saada province.

They consolidated their control over Saada during the 2011 uprising that forced long-time President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

In September 2014, they gained control of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.

Houthis accuse President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and other leaders of putting their interests ahead of the Yemeni people. However, the opponents allege that the rebels ultimately hope to reinstall the Zaidi imamate, which ruled North Yemen for almost 1000 years until 1962.