UN Peace Envoy Jamal Benomar Resigns

United Nation (UN) peace envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar has resigned, after losing support from Gulf countries for his mission in the conflict-riven nation.
His resignation comes after UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the swift resumption of peace talks and an end to violence in Yemen on 14 April 2015.
The adopted resolution adopted calls on the Huthis to withdraw from Sanaa and all other areas they have seized.

About Jamal Benomar

• Since 2012, he was serving as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy for Yemen.
• He joined UN in 1994 and had served at various key of posts of different UN agencies.
• It included United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

Background
The security situation in Yemen deteriorated after the Shia Houthis rebels had seized power by dissolving Yemen’s government and parliament in January 2015. Since then they had taken control of key government buildings in capital Sanaa including Presidential Palace.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2015