Mr. President,
I would first like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Tom Fletcher, for their briefings. I would also like to welcome the Permanent Representative of Yemen among us.
Mr. President,
1/ France strongly condemns the arbitrary arrests of United Nations personnel carried out by the Houthis in Sana’a and Hodeida once again on August 31, 2025, as well as the forced entry into United Nations premises and the seizure of assets belonging to the organization. The safety of United Nations personnel and assets must be guaranteed at all times.
We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all United Nations personnel, those of non-governmental organizations, and those of diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained by the Houthis, some of whom have been detained since 2021. France welcomes the fact that this Council expressed itself and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
These detentions violate international law. They obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid that the Yemeni population need. The Houthis bear overwhelming responsibility for the suffering of the Yemeni civilian population. While more than 17 million Yemenis do not have enough to eat, the Houthis attack those who seek to deliver assistance to them, using improbable and unacceptable pretexts. France reiterates its full support for the work of the United Nations and its personnel on the ground, who must be able to carry out their mission in complete safety.
2/ France condemns in the strongest terms the continued Houthi attacks against Israel and maritime traffic in the Red Sea. These attacks are unacceptable and threaten regional peace and security. The Houthis, supported by Iran, must cease their destabilizing actions in Yemen, the Red Sea, and more broadly in the Middle East. The Security Council must be able to condemn them with one voice and without ambiguity.
France will continue to uphold its commitment to the European Union’s ASPIDES defensive security and defense policy operation to protect maritime security and freedom of navigation, fully in accordance with international law and together with its partners.
Mr. President,
3/ Only an inclusive political solution will bring an end to the conflict in Yemen. France reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy and calls on all Yemeni stakeholders to engage in good faith in the resumption of a political process under the auspices of the United Nations. This process must ensure the participation of Yemeni women and young people, whose engagement is essential to building a future of peace and stability.
Finally, France reaffirms its commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Yemen, as well as to regional security.
Thank you.