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Oppenheim to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Problem Isn’t Houthis, It’s Their Destructive Behavior

UK Ambassador to Yemen Richard Oppenheim
UK Ambassador to Yemen Richard Oppenheim
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Oppenheim to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Problem Isn’t Houthis, It’s Their Destructive Behavior

UK Ambassador to Yemen Richard Oppenheim
UK Ambassador to Yemen Richard Oppenheim

The UK ambassador to Yemen, Richard Oppenheim, acknowledged that he has direct communication channels with the Houthis and confirmed that he had dined with the group’s spokesman, Mohammed Abdulsalam, in Muscat three months ago, as did his predecessor Michael Aron.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Oppenheim affirmed that the problem with Houthis is in their destructive behavior, not in them being a Yemeni group or participating in government. He reiterated the UK’s condemnation of their recent attacks on oil ports, describing them as “terrorist attacks.”

While expressing concerns about consequences of the internationally recognized government designating Houthis as a “terrorist group,” he expressed his hope that the group would participate in Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).

Oppenheim also stressed the importance of maintaining the calm and supporting the efforts of the UN envoy to reach a lasting peace.

The British diplomat explained his country’s views on many Yemeni files, including employee salaries, resource distribution, the performance of the PLC, and the southern issue.

He also spoke about the role of the UN envoy and what priorities Yemenis should undertake.

- Terrorist Attacks

Without ambiguity, Oppenheim described recent Houthi aggressions as terrorist attacks. He asserted that his country’s stance was firm on the Houthis’ latest three attacks on oil infrastructure in Yemen. These assaults, according to the ambassador, are terrorist in nature.

Regarding the government’s response to these attacks by blacklisting Houthi militias as a terrorist group, Oppenheim reminds all parties that the space for dialogue needs protection.

The ambassador warned that the Houthi terrorist designation by the government may have ramifications on humanitarian access.

Nevertheless, Oppenheim recalls how the Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose seized Iranian weapon-laden vessels that were en route to deliver to Houthis in Yemen.

Participating in Yemen’s Governance

Oppenheim did not hide his hopes for Houthis to come around and participate in Yemen’s PLC. He reiterated the UK’s support for PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi and the council’s remaining members.

According to the ambassador, the PLC brings together all of Yemen’s parties, except the Houthis.

Oppenheim noted that the PLC’s strength, unity, and stability, is vital for the current phase Yemen is experiencing.

He moved on to stress that Houthis, who continue to refuse sharing power in Yemen, do not enjoy international relations. The diplomat explained that what Houthis have are ties with some international representatives.

Oppenheim asserted that the Houthi government remains unrecognized.

In his opinion, Oppenheim believes that the real question in Yemen today is: How can parties share power and resources found in the country?

For this reason, Oppenheim notes that the question of salaries of public workers remains crucial and can be a prelude for a solution to the issue at hand.

He, however, acknowledged that the matter is up to Yemenis to decide how they want to manage the situation. Oppenheim also said that Yemenis must decide on what political structures might work in a future political settlement.

- PLC

PLC members have proven that they can work together, even when they do not agree on everything, affirmed Oppenheim.

As for whether disputes arise among PLC members, the British ambassador affirmed that they do, but continued to emphasize that coalition governments everywhere suffer from differences.

In fact, even within political parties there is often conflict in any country on various issues, but they still work together, the ambassador added.

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UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
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UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has issued a stark warning about the continued flow of weapons into the war-torn country, saying it only “feeds military delusions” and delays peace.

In his first in-depth interview since assuming the role earlier this year, Lamamra told Asharq Al-Awsat that peace in Sudan cannot be imposed from outside but must be forged by Sudanese themselves through collective will and unity.

“Peace is not imposed, it is made,” he said. “And if Sudanese do not make it, it will not come to them from the outside.”

Lamamra, an Algerian diplomat and former foreign minister with decades of experience in African mediation, emphasized that no military solution is possible in Sudan’s conflict. Instead, he called for an urgent political settlement, warning that “each day of delay means more fragmentation, more bloodshed.”

Following meetings in Port Sudan with Sovereign Council leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and ongoing communications with the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lamamra acknowledged that the path to peace remains long and difficult.

He condemned what he described as a dangerous “logic of dominance” driving the conflict—a belief that complete military victory is possible, regardless of the cost to Sudan’s social fabric. “Some actors still think peace can wait until one side wins,” he said. “But that’s a delusion. There is no military solution.”

Instead, he stressed: “Sudan needs a political solution based on compromise, not revenge.”

Since taking office, Lamamra has focused on coordinating rather than expanding international mediation efforts. He voiced concern about the “overcrowding of mediators,” which he said has allowed Sudanese factions to exploit international divisions.

To address this, Lamamra launched a consultative group that includes the African Union, the Arab League, and peace-sponsoring countries. The group has met in Cairo, Djibouti, and Mauritania and plans to convene again in Brussels under EU sponsorship.

“What we need is not more mediators, but consensus around a unified vision,” he said. “Multiple tracks have allowed some parties to bet on contradictory international positions, delaying serious efforts toward peace.”

He pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2724, which tasked him with coordinating peace efforts, emphasizing that its implementation hinges on aligning international efforts behind a single, realistic peace strategy.

Asked whether Sudan’s war has faded from global attention, Lamamra acknowledged that media coverage may fluctuate but said the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen.

“The suffering is daily and ongoing,” he said, highlighting the dire conditions in North Darfur and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zamzam camp. “The tragedy breaks the heart.”

With over 13 million internally displaced and millions more seeking refuge abroad, Lamamra described Sudan as the site of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis today. “This is a country under siege by arms, division, and international silence,” he said.

He praised the special attention paid by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has longstanding ties to Sudan dating back to his leadership of the UN refugee agency.

Lamamra was especially vocal about the dangerous role of foreign military support. “Feeding the war with weapons is not support for resolution—it is participation in prolonging delusion and division,” he said.

He accused some regional and international actors of backing Sudanese factions in hopes of future influence. “They forget that war leaves nothing intact to control,” he noted. “It’s in no one’s interest to see Sudan collapse.”

The envoy reiterated the UN’s calls for a total halt to arms shipments and strict enforcement of Security Council resolutions aimed at cutting off military funding.

Despite international interference, Lamamra emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for ending the war lies with Sudanese themselves. “History will judge them first and foremost,” he underlined.

Lamamra said the Jeddah Declaration—an agreement brokered by Saudi Arabia to ensure humanitarian access and civilian protection—remains a viable starting point for peace efforts. He commended Riyadh’s efforts and urged regional actors to intensify pressure on warring factions.

He also pointed to the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad as a potential turning point. “Sudan is central to the Arab identity. This is not a crisis that allows for neutrality,” he said.

In a direct message to the Sudanese public, Lamamra expressed admiration for their resilience. “I visited Port Sudan recently and met with leaders and citizens. I was moved by their hospitality and strong will to take charge of their future,” he said.

He pledged the UN’s continued support, acknowledging the scale of the humanitarian challenge: “Children, women, and innocent civilians are being stripped of life’s basic necessities. This crisis demands a moral awakening—not just from governments, but from everyone who hears and sees.”

Lamamra concluded: “Peace is not a one-time event—it’s a long-term project. And if we don’t begin now, there may be nothing left to build on in a few months.”