New U.N. envoy for Yemen to visit region next week

The new UN envoy for Yemen will travel to the region next week for talks on advancing prospects for a return to peace negotiations, diplomats and UN officials said Friday.

It will be Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed’s first visit to capitals in the Gulf and Middle East since he was appointed as peace envoy for Yemen on April 25.

Top UN official Jeffrey Feltman told the Security Council that the visit will take place as part of UN efforts to jump-start negotiations, diplomats said.

Talks collapsed after Shiite Huthi rebels went on the offensive, seizing the capital Sanaa and advancing on Aden, forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee into exile to Saudi Arabia.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched an air war on Yemen on March 26 to prevent the Huthi rebels from taking the entire territory and to restore Hadi’s authority.

Mauritanian diplomat Ould Cheikh Ahmed was appointed to replace Jamal Benomar, who resigned after losing the support of Gulf states.

UN efforts to resume peace negotiations for Yemen have run into hurdles over disagreements on the venue for the talks, with Gulf countries insisting they be held in Riyadh.