Yemen vice‑president tells UN restoring the state is prerequisite for maritime security

Abdullah Al‑Alimi Bawazir, Vice‑President of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, told the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2026 that Yemen’s path to stability depends on restoring the state; he said his Government had engaged "responsibly and positively" with regional and international peace initiatives and had made significant concessions to end civilian suffering.

Mr. Bawazir accused the Houthis of "intransigence"; he said they used periods of humanitarian truce to strengthen their military arsenal "at the expense of ordinary citizens." Those assertions are his account as reported by UN News; the article does not cite independent verification of the specific claims.

He argued that international hesitation over designating the Houthis a terrorist group allowed them to expand their influence; he also blamed Iranian military support; including weapons, expertise and technology; for enabling the conflict to continue and to spill beyond Yemen. Those are his allegations; the UN News report attributes them to him rather than confirming them.

On maritime security, Mr. Bawazir said Houthi attacks and the use of maritime navigation as "a tool for blackmail" threaten the global economy; he said "ensuring security at sea begins with eliminating the source of the threat on land," and warned that protecting ships alone "only addresses the consequences and does not remove the threat."

He connected securing Bab el‑Mandeb and wider waterways to restoring Yemen’s state institutions; he argued that supporting the Government’s economic, security and military capacities would be an investment in international peace and security. That is his policy prescription as reported by UN News.

Mr. Bawazir sought to frame the fight as against an "armed coup," not against any Yemeni citizen or particular region, sect or social group; he said restoring the state should not mean excluding any Yemenis and called for international measures to implement UN resolutions and halt the flow of arms and technology to militias.

He thanked UN agencies for their work but condemned the continued detention by the Houthis of UN personnel and humanitarian workers; he said "Those working for peace and humanitarian relief must never be held hostage to blackmail."

Mr. Bawazir reaffirmed Yemen’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to freedom, dignity and an independent sovereign state; he urged protection for civilians and an end to their suffering. He concluded by describing Bab el‑Mandeb as "a bridge between peoples, a route for commerce and a gateway to peace."

See something we should correct? Read our corrections policy.