The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is considering inviting the Houthis and other parties to Yemen’s civil war for talks leading to a UN-brokered peace agreement, Reuters first reported, citing two unnamed Gulf officials. An official announcement of talks in Riyadh is expected this week, according to the report.
Houthi officials would be “guests” of GCC Secretary-General Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf at GCC headquarters with his security guarantees for the talks planned for March 29-April 7, according to Reuters.
Saudi Arabia has since 2015 led a coalition of nine countries in support of the internationally recognized government of Yemen, led by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Hadi, who is based in Riyadh, has agreed to the talks, the officials told Reuters.
The civil war in Yemen has entered its eighth year and is considered one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.