On 10 April, the federal government wants to decide to support the United Nations observation mission UNMHA in the civil war country of Yemen with a German contingent. This emerges from a statement of the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defense addressed to leading defense and foreign politicians in the Bundestag.
First of all, „only one soldier in civilian clothes and unarmed to fill the post“ Chief Assessment UNMHA „- Head of Evaluation – should be sent,“ the letter said. However, the German participation could in future „grow up to ten observers (maximum of five soldiers, a maximum of five policewomen and police officers).“
The UN Security Council had decided to monitor compliance with a ceasefire agreement negotiated in mid-December in the strategically important port of Hodeida. The mission is initially scheduled for six months and the resolution provides for the deployment of 75 international unarmed observers.
The Federal Government wants to support the mission because it is „in the Yemen political, regional political and political interests of Germany“ to support the exit from the military conflict. In addition, an important contribution „to strengthen peace missions of the United Nations“ is made.
Dispute about arms exports to Saudi Arabia
A parliamentary mandate was not necessary because it was not a „use of armed forces“. The FDP chairman in the defense committee, Alexander Müller, welcomed the project: „The war in Yemen must finally be ended.“
Alexander Neu, defense politician of the left, criticized that the federal government would play itself „as a responsible actor for the region“. „At the same time she is struggling with the suspension of some arms exports for Saudi Arabia, the main aggressor and the main responsible for the suffering and misery of the people in Yemen.“
A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia is supporting the Sunni government of Yemen against the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in the civil war raging since 2014. The Federal Government had stopped arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia in November 2018.
The export ban was initially only valid for two months, but was extended because of the Saudi Arabian participation in the Yemen War ever more. This led to massive protests from the defense industry and strife within the grand coalition.
