The ninth round of negotiations regarding the exchange of prisoners and detainees between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group has concluded in the Omani capital of Muscat after eight days. The negotiations were led by the office of the UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
A statement issued by the UN envoy's office on Sunday indicated that the talks resulted in a significant breakthrough, with the parties reaching an understanding regarding the release of Muhammad Qahtan, a contentious issue for years. Furthermore, they agreed to hold a subsequent meeting to finalize the agreement on the names of the detainees who will be released and the arrangements for Mr. Qahtan's release.
Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy to Yemen, stated: "Thousands of Yemenis are waiting to reunite with their loved ones. Despite the positive progress, much remains to be done, and at a faster pace, to alleviate the suffering of these families." Grundberg called on the parties to continue working with his office to complete the implementation plan of the understanding reached, including the names of detainees to be released and agreeing on further releases.
He expressed gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the meeting and praised its ongoing support for UN mediation efforts in Yemen. The UN envoy reiterated the United Nations' calls for the parties to refrain from the arbitrary detention of civilians and to respect the rights of Yemenis under international law. He particularly emphasized the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of UN staff and humanitarian workers from civil society who have been arbitrarily detained in Sana’a and remain in custody without communication with the outside world.
He added: "The UN remains committed to this important work of reuniting Yemeni families with their detained loved ones. As we continue this mission, we must also denounce the arbitrary detention of all civilians and express our sorrow for the suffering of their families and loved ones. Their immediate and unconditional release is the only acceptable option."
