UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2837 renewing Yemen sanctions for a year and targeting Houthi weapons supply

The UN Security Council on 12 November renewed its Yemen sanctions regime for a further year and widened it to address what the United Nations press service called the “evolving Houthi threats”, adopting Resolution 2837. The UK’s ambassador to the UN, Sarah MacIntosh, told the Council that the text was adopted by consensus.

What the resolution does

According to the UN press service, the Council renewed for 12 months the targeted travel-ban and asset-freeze measures on designated individuals and entities in Yemen. It also extended for 13 months the mandate of the Panel of Experts that assists the Council’s Yemen Sanctions Committee, which was established under Resolution 2140 of 2014. Before the vote, the UN press service said the regime would run until 14 November 2027 and the Panel’s mandate until 15 December 2027.

In her explanation of vote, MacIntosh said the resolution “strengthens the implementation of arms embargo measures” and ensures that the regime “keeps pace with the evolving threat from the Houthis”. She pointed to the Houthis’ reliance on dual-use components and precursor chemicals for their local weapons manufacturing, and said the UK looks forward to agreeing with Council members, in the coming months, a list of dual-use items that would be subject to measures within the regime.

The UK said it stands in solidarity with the Government of Yemen and Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks, and reaffirmed their right to defend their security and sovereignty in accordance with international law.

Humanitarian picture cited by the UK

MacIntosh said that more than 22.3 million people in Yemen need humanitarian assistance and protection, and that more than 330,000 people have been displaced by recent fighting, which she linked to the Houthis’ decision to resume the conflict. The UK also condemned the Houthis’ continued detention of UN, humanitarian, civil society and diplomatic personnel and repeated its call for their immediate and unconditional release. These figures are the UK’s own statement to the Council.

The vote follows the Council’s briefing on the work of the sanctions committee earlier this month, covered in UN Security Council hears Yemen sanctions committee report: 10 individuals and one entity listed, eight Panel of Experts recommendations pending. Which dual-use items will be listed is still to be agreed among Council members, according to the UK statement.

The Houthis have not been quoted in the sources read for this report.