Yemen-Houthi prisoner exchange talks conclude without agreement

The latest round of prisoner exchange negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group concluded Saturday in Muscat, Oman, without reaching a comprehensive agreement, according to officials from both sides.

The seven-day talks were conducted under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), aiming to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding prisoners in the conflict-ridden nation.

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Majid Fadail, the official spokesman for the Yemeni government delegation, told the state-run Saba News Agency that while no final agreement was reached, the talks "achieved some breakthroughs in the issue of abductees and forcibly disappeared persons."

The Houthi delegation, led by Abdul-Qadir Murtada, confirmed that some points of agreement were reached, including resolving the case of Mohamed Qahtan, a Yemeni pro-government politician who has been held by the Houthis for nine years. Murtada also noted that both parties agreed to exchange some prisoner lists.

Both sides have expressed commitment to continuing dialogue, with the next round of talks scheduled to take place after a two-month preparation period. During this time, the parties are expected to focus on completing and approving detainee lists, laying the groundwork for potential breakthroughs in future negotiations.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Wednesday announced that negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group have achieved significant progress regarding the release of conflict-related detainees, including a prominent Yemeni politician.

The current round follows a series of UN-sponsored talks between the Yemeni government and Houthis over the years. The most recent discussions, held in Amman in June 2023, ended without an agreement.

However, a previous round in Switzerland in March 2023 led to a successful prisoner exchange in April 2023, resulting in the release of over 800 prisoners and detainees from both warring Yemeni sides.