Statement delivered by H.E. Micheal Kanu, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, on behalf of the A3+, at the Security Council Briefing on 'The situation in the Middle East' - Yemen

Madam President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+ members: Algeria, Guyana, Somalia, and my own country, Sierra Leone.

We thank the briefers, Mr. Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Yemen; Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; and Ms. Nesmah Mansoor Ali, for their insightful and comprehensive briefings.

We also welcome the participation of the Representative of Yemen in today’s meeting.

Madam President,

At the outset, the A3+ reiterates and fully supports the UN Secretary-General’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN humanitarian personnel, diplomatic staff, and civil society actors currently detained by the Houthis. The arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions of these individuals represent a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL). We are also deeply concerned by the ongoing targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the continued erosion of civic space in Yemen.

As this Council remains committed to a Yemeni-owned and Yemeni-led political process that will ultimately bring lasting peace to Yemen, we emphasize the need to preserve the hard-won gains to date and underscore the importance of sustained mediation efforts under the auspices of the UN. In this regard, we would like to highlight the following points:

First, in light of Yemen’s multifaceted political, security, and humanitarian challenges, we stress the importance of a balanced and inclusive process that ensures the safe and meaningful participation of all Yemenis in building the foundation for lasting peace.

The A3+ fully supports the concerted efforts of the UN and regional actors, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, in facilitating dialogue among national actors toward a political settlement, based on agreed references.

We commend the efforts of Special Envoy Grundberg in facilitating de-escalation of tensions and conflict. In this regard, we urge the full implementation of the recommendations from the recent Third Yemen International Forum as part of ongoing community and national-level engagements.

Second, the A3+ is profoundly concerned by the worsening levels of food insecurity in Yemen, exacerbated by the ongoing hostilities, economic decline, and climate-related events. The humanitarian situation remains dire, as communities continue to suffer from the widespread damage and displacement caused by recent floods, including the catastrophic 2024 floods that destroyed homes, farms, and livelihoods.

The A3+ calls for increased support for the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, which aims to provide life-saving assistance to 19.5 million people, particularly women, girls, and children, who have been disproportionately affected by the conflict. 

Despite shrinking aid budgets, we recognize the tireless efforts of humanitarian organizations and their personnel to meet the urgent needs of the Yemeni people. We echo the call from USG Fletcher, OCHA, WFP and other agencies in urging States with influence and means to support these efforts, including finding innovative solutions to mitigate the risks faced by humanitarian workers due to targeted attacks.

Third, the risk of military escalation within Yemen is growing, threatening to undermine the peace process and exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people. Stability in the Middle East is at a critical juncture, particularly with the ongoing negotiations to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza and the peace process in Syria, both of which are at critical transition points.

Madam President,

We note that in its two most recent monthly reports, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has indicated no new incidents have occurred since the previous report covering the period through 7 February 2025. We hope this positive trend will continue, ultimately leading to a permanent cessation of attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

This Council must remain resolute in its support for an inclusive political process to address Yemen’s political and security challenges. Lasting peace and stability are essential for establishing the necessary national governance systems and for restarting oil and gas production and exports to revitalize the Yemeni economy.

In conclusion, the A3+ remains committed to supporting the Special Envoy’s diplomatic efforts in facilitating a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned political process under the auspices of the UN to ultimately bring lasting peace to Yemen.

I thank you.