The newly appointed head of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Lieutenant General Abhijit Guha of India, kickstarted his tenure by meeting with a delegation of officials from Yemen’s internationally-recognized government.

This move is perceived as part of the UNMHA head’s overall efforts to revive the Stockholm Agreement that was struck between Yemen’s legitimacy and Houthi militias in December last year.

Hodeidah delegate Waleed Al Qadimi pointed out that the meeting aimed at continuing efforts to implement the UN-brokered accord and the ceasefire.

The government delegation urged more pressure to curb Houthi militia hostility. It also pressed for the ceasefire monitor to engage quickly and point fingers towards which party is incessantly responsible for violating the agreement.

Qadimi revealed that the Yemeni government, backed by the Arab Coalition, is looking to build peace according to the three main references and to save Hodeidah the destruction to its infrastructure and ports.

He also pointed out that Guha asked the Yemeni government to stand by his efforts.

As for the prospects of the Hodeidah agreement succeeding a year after going into effect, political analyst Abdo Moghles said they are weak so long Houthis continue to implement an Iranian agenda.

“The Stockholm agreement of December 13, 2018, which provided for the withdrawal of Houthi militias from Hodeidah city and its ports, the ports of Salif and Ras Issa, within 14 days, has so far not been implemented, because of Houthi's intransigence and their rejection of a reference-based peace,” Moghles told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He also pointed out that Houthis have staged thousands of military and other violations since the signing of the agreement.

“Peace is a real choice supported by facts and good behavior with the Yemeni people, state and institutions, which is absent when it comes to Houthi militias and their association with Iran. This has complicated the scene and forced the UN to change head monitors of the agreement, and here we are witnessing the third swap,” Moghles added, warning that Guha may face the same fate as his predecessors.ِA.Awsat