Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Ex-UN envoy to Yemen tied to Saudi, UAE energy companies: Declassified

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Declassified UK
  • 23 Feb 2023 14:46
  • 3 Shares
5 Min Read

Martin Griffiths has had several clients who have played major roles in bombing attacks on Yemen.

  • x
  • United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths speaks during a news conference following talks at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Germany April 12, 2021. (Reuters)
    Former United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths speaks during a news conference following talks at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Germany April 12, 2021. (Reuters)

The current UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, cofounded a consultancy firm with the vice president of a major energy firm that has developed multi-million dollar projects in the US directly after the beginning of the war in Yemen. According to Declassified UK, The former UN special envoy to Yemen has shown close links to private energy groups that showed significant financial interests in the oil sectors in KSA and the UAE.

Griffiths co-founded his private consulting firm with Andrew Loken, who happens to be the vice president of ICARE, a company that has had major commercial interests in Saudi Arabia and UAE's energy sectors. Yet, ICARE claims that it does not currently work in either country. 

Griffiths launched Mediation Group International (MGI), his consulting firm, which promoted conflict resolution back in 2011 with his co-founder and shareholder Andrew Loken. It seemed to have shared the same headquarters as ICARE in a town in western Switzerland. 

When asked if there was a relationship between MGI and ICARE, Loken told Declassified UK that "there is no relationship or link," emphasizing that there had not been any discussions regarding this matter. 

Both Saudi Arabian and Emirati governments are deeply belligerent in the war on Yemen. Over 25,000 bombing missions were flown by the UK-backed coalition in Yemen, mainly by Saudi warplanes. Given his position, Griffiths had access to officials in both countries. This raises questions regarding the impartiality of the role of the UN special envoy between 2018 and August 2021. 

Read more: Ex-UN envoy to Yemen tied to MI6, SIS, Foreign Office: Declassified

Inter Mediate, another company Griffiths co-founded back in 2011, which is active in the war on Yemen, "works closely" with Britain's Secret Intelligence Services, Declassified has revealed. Its mission also includes finding resolutions to conflicts that may come up between communities, governments, and multinational companies... Inter Mediate's mission states that its “valuing lies in its exceptional professional mediation experience, its impartiality and its ability to operate in all environments”. 

Relations with the energy sector

MGI's former website included information on its partners and associates. However, client details are missing from the page. 

Related News

Jordan, UAE assist IOF with dropping symbolic aid over Gaza

Reuters: Trump vows help Afghan evacuees as UAE quietly deports them

Andrew Loken was a shareholder in MGI while he worked as a general manager at ICARE GROUP, which at one point had 650 employees worldwide with a number of clients in the Middle East, including the majorly Saudi-government-owned Saudi Electric Company (SEC).

SEC is partially owned by Aramco (the Saudi national oil company)/  Its projects with ICARE have been estimated to reach almost a billion dollars.

ICARE had several other clients, including Saudi Arabia's largest mining company (Ma'aden), Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining,  Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and oil giants such as Total, Petrobras, ExxonMobil, in addition to several more.  

Peace in disguise?

Loken was appointed Senior Advisor at the European Institute of Peace when Griffiths acted as an executive director of that same institute. Griffiths, later on, left the institute when he was appointed UN envoy to Yemen in February 2018 following the Saudi-led war on Yemen.

When Loken took on his new role, while still working with ICARE, he was majorly active in Venezuela while he worked on major infrastructure improvement projects for over 10 years. He focused his work on improving and opening up communication channels between Venezuela's government and the European Union, adding one more major oil sector client to ICARE's list, PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company.

The Chief executive officer and president of ICARE told Declassified UK that he has never met or spoken to Mr.Grifiths, denying any connection between him, ICARE group, or any other companies he heads. 

“I have never met nor spoken to Mr Griffiths and there is no connection between him and me or the ICARE group of companies of which I am President.” He added: “ICARE is not working on any projects in Saudi Arabia or the UAE.”

Read more: 18 Yemeni Missiles and Drones Target Saudi Aramco

Andrew Marshall, a Canadian former UN official, was another one of MGI's shareholders. He was appointed  Senior Advisor following Griffith's appointment in Yemen in October 2019. Marshal also co-founded the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue with Griffiths back in 1999.

Headed by Marshall, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue was able to achieve solutions to problems related to oil and pipeline operations in the World Bank in central Africa. 

Another shareholder was British lawyer Mark Muller who was an advisor to the UN special envoy for Syria. He once acted as a Senior Advisor to both the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and Inter Mediate.

Read next: 7 years of aggression on Yemen, victims surpass 46,000

  • UN envoy to Yemen
  • war on Yemen
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Oil companies

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS