Yemenis Demand Exposing Parties Obstructing Implementation of Riyadh Agreement

A general view of the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, January 22, 2018. (Reuters)
A general view of the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, January 22, 2018. (Reuters)
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Yemenis Demand Exposing Parties Obstructing Implementation of Riyadh Agreement

A general view of the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, January 22, 2018. (Reuters)
A general view of the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, January 22, 2018. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber reaffirmed on Saturday that the Kingdom, leading the Arab coalition backing the official government in the war-torn country, continues to work with each party of the Riyadh Agreement.

The Riyadh Agreement is a Saudi-sponsored conflict settlement that was cosigned by the internationally recognized government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

“We are counting on everyone to put the interest of our fellow Yemeni people above all else,” said Al-Jaber in a tweet that urged expediting the return of elected Yemeni government officials to the interim capital, Aden.

According to Al-Jaber, the return of ministers to the battle-weary country would better enable the government to perform its duties, especially on alleviating the suffering of Yemenis and completing the implementation of all aspects of the agreement.

Today, many Yemenis are raising their voices in demand for breaking the silence on who is standing in the way of realizing the Riyadh Agreement and exposing the parties blocking government efforts on ending the war, economic crisis and the Iran-backed Houthi coup in Yemen.

Inked in August 2019, the deal offers a political umbrella for bridging the gap between the government and the STC. It includes political, security, military, economic and development agreements.

As the result of extensive shuttle diplomacy by Saudi Arabia, the agreement was signed and followed by a mechanism for speeding up its implementation.

The deal was deemed a success after producing a technocratic government that represents all parties to the Yemeni political spectrum involved in the Riyadh Agreement.

However, implementing the military and security aspects of the understanding has fallen short of expectations. Some provisions were met, while others remain pending.

“There are some parties who insist on obstruction to achieve personal goals that do not serve Yemeni citizens, the government, or the political spectrum,” Yemeni activists who requested anonymity told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They warned of what they labeled as a “gamble” taken by those blocking the full application of the agreement at a time when living conditions are hitting new lows in Yemen.

The activists explained that Houthis stand to gain the most from the stalled implementation.

As for Al-Jaber’s remark on the need for state officials returning to Aden, activists noted that “shuffling the cards only serves enemies, and that those inhibiting the execution of the Riyadh Agreement must be exposed.”



Sudan Arms Surge Raises Alarms Over Civilian Protection

Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)
Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)
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Sudan Arms Surge Raises Alarms Over Civilian Protection

Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)
Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)

A surge in deadly violence has gripped the quiet northern town of al-Dabbah, exposing the growing threat posed by the rampant spread of weapons across Sudan in the absence of effective state control.

At least eight people were killed over just two days, four in tribal clashes and four others in a street fight within the town.

The latest bloodshed comes amid a broader climate of insecurity, where gunfire has become a common soundscape. In nearby Omdurman, social media users circulated graphic footage of a young man shot dead in cold blood after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone.

Reports of killings and injuries from arguments and brawls settled with bullets have flooded social platforms, painting a grim picture of lawlessness. Armed robbery gangs are said to roam freely, terrorizing civilians with no security forces in sight.

As Sudan’s brutal conflict enters its third year, guns have become as commonplace in towns and villages as household items. What was once settled with fists or sticks is now resolved through the barrel of a gun.

Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly armed themselves, citing the need for self-defense amid state collapse and the disintegration of law enforcement.

Even before the war erupted, estimates suggested around 2.2 million firearms were circulating in Sudan’s conflict zones. Since then, the figure is believed to have ballooned, with unofficial estimates placing the current number at nearly six million, most acquired privately or informally.

In al-Dabbah, local authorities confirmed tribal clashes erupted between members of the Kababish and Hawaweer tribes, leaving four dead and others wounded before security forces intervened. The following day, a quarrel between vehicle drivers escalated into a gunfight, claiming four more lives.

Meanwhile, in the Omdurman district of Al-Hattana, gunmen fatally shot a man while attempting to snatch his phone, another grim scene that social media brought into public view.

Weapons have now flooded Sudan’s markets. Eyewitnesses and former security officials say that under the brief control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, firearms were openly sold on the street like vegetables, with prices starting at just 20,000 Sudanese pounds, roughly $10.

Security experts say this gun chaos is not a sudden phenomenon but the product of years of unchecked proliferation.

Under former President Omar al-Bashir, weapons were distributed to tribal militias to fight opposing groups. With the eruption of nationwide conflict, arms have spread from the traditional battlegrounds of Darfur and Kordofan to cities in Sudan’s north, east, and center.

Legal analyst Moaz Hadra warned of the growing dangers of “random arming,” saying some groups are being trained and armed outside Sudan to destabilize the country. “Why are these groups being trained abroad instead of within Sudan’s military institutions?” he asked when speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Officials Downplay Risk, Citing Self-Defense

Despite mounting violence, Sudanese security and military officials continue to downplay the threat. They argue that most weapons are held by civilians for self-protection against RSF attacks or roaming bandits. “Should a citizen wait helplessly while armed men storm his home?” one commentator asked rhetorically.

Brigadier General Fath al-Rahman al-Toum, a police spokesman, dismissed fears of total lawlessness, saying that gun crackdowns are ongoing and that firearms possession is being treated as an exceptional situation under extraordinary circumstances.

Others, like Brigadier General Saleh Abdullah, insist that once the war ends, collecting the weapons will be “very easy,” noting that most guns were distributed under strict regulations to reserve forces and can be retrieved using serial numbers registered to each piece. “The army has always managed its weapons according to clear protocols,” he said.

Major General Mujahid Ibrahim added that Sudan’s porous borders, particularly in the west, have made it easier for arms to enter the country unchecked, exacerbating the crisis. Still, military officials say weapons loaned to civilians can be recovered thanks to detailed logs and unique identifiers.

Yet, as al-Dabbah and Omdurman reel from fresh bouts of violence, the gap between official reassurance and on-the-ground chaos continues to widen. With Sudan’s civil war showing no sign of abating, the unchecked spread of guns threatens to tear apart what remains of the country’s fragile social fabric.