Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Yemen
Delegate Name: Lore Dulin
The nation of Yemen has been ravaged by an ongoing civil war ever since 2014. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have played a specific role when it comes to the nation of Yemen’s civil war, they both have active military efforts occurring within the nation. These are not the only two countries who have gotten involved, numerous Latin American countries have assisted in the Saudi led coalition. The largest delegation of mercenaries happens to be Latin American, made up of Chile, El Salvador, Columbia, and Panama.
Saudi Arabia understands the threat of the Houthis, who are backed by their main regional competitor, Iran. The nation of Saudi Arabia also saw the need to ensure the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is critical for oil shipping connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, was under Saudi control.
The nation of Yemen lacks any sort of legal framework of policies when it comes to PMC’s, and generally relies on military aid to support the goal of instilling a more stabilized government. Yemen continues to accept foreign-backed PMC’s due to their critical support in the conflict whether that is directly fighting in the civil war or helping train the Yemeni soldiers.
The Saudi and UAE coalition in January of 2022 carried out three attacks in Yemen in violation of laws of war, resulting in around 80 civilian deaths. Claiming that the attack was on a military facility, the Human Rights Watch found no evidence to support their claims.
The delegate of Yemen sees the immediate need for a regulatory framework, policies, and or laws to control the usage of PMC’s. These regulations must ensure accountability, transparency, and adhere to international law. The usage of foreign military assistance requires clearer guidelines for all nations. The delegate of Yemen requests the United Nations consider the impact these PMC’s have, and their crucial role in fighting the Houthis.
PMC’s must receive a formal framework to guide their work internationally. Yemen is experiencing the consequences of this lack of framework and lack of accountability of these PMC’s first hand. The United Nations must establish systems to hold PMC’s accountable and observe their actions.
References
The Saudi-led War in Yemen: Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Friends Committee On National Legislation. Retrieved 11 20, 2024, from https://www.fcnl.org/issues/middle-east-iran/saudi-led-war-yemen-frequently-asked-questions
States must stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen conflict. (2016, February 26). Amnesty. Retrieved 11 22, 2024, from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2016/02/states-must-stop-selling-weapons-to-saudi-arabia-amid-yemen-conflict/
Stevenson, T., & Glazebrook, D. (2019, March 28). Saudi’s coalition in Yemen: Militias and mercenaries backed by western firepower. Middle East Eye. Retrieved November 23, 2024, from https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudis-coalition-yemen-militias-and-mercenaries-backed-western-firepower
Yemen: Latest Round of Saudi-UAE-Led Attacks Targets Civilians. (2022, April 18). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved November 23, 2024, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/18/yemen-latest-round-saudi-uae-led-attacks-targets-civilians
