SANA’A — Challenges continue to stand in the way for the U.N.'s envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar.  He is expected to play a role in the upcoming National Dialogue Conference (NDC), slated to take place this November.

When he arrived in Sana’a on Saturday, Benomar said he will focus on the U.N.'s supportive role in helping Yemen during its transitional period, as well as supporting all parties involved in the Conference.

Abdulazizi Al-Majedi, Editor-in-Chief of the weekly Al-Shahed Newspaper, said Benomar’s statements do not provide anything new substance because he only spoke of preparations made for the NDC, also pointing out that Benomar's tasks are of technical assistance.  

Al-Majedi criticized Benomar's statement that says the success of elections in Yemen depends on the NDC’s success. Al-Majedi said the U.N. representative did not clarify how the NDC is going to succeed in Yemen considering the division of the military and security concerns that have forced President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and the prime minister to work from home.

Al-Majedi is also concerned about the Gulf Initiative brokers' seemingly indifference towards the power structure within the military.  He believes this to be the most pressing issue facing the NDC and Benomar.  Without a tangible effort to question the military's control, he thinks the NDC will fail.

Saqer Abu Hassan, a journalist and a youth activist in Sana’a’s Change Square, also said there are many factors that will inhibit the conference's success.

Although Benomar has made repeated visits to Yemen, Hassan believes the political future in Yemen is still opaque even for the envoy.

On Benomar’s most recent visit,on the anniversary of the October 14 Revolution,  President Hadi delivered a speech in which he asserted that the NDC will coincide with military's restructuring.

Hadi said these steps will include establishing the Supreme Elections and Referendum Committee and the electoral record, according to state-run Saba News Agency.