A Ray of Hope: Yemen Peace Talks and Prisoner Exchange

On Tuesday, the national negotiating delegation met with the United Nations envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in the Omani capital of Muscat. The meeting focused on discussing the comprehensive solution steps and arrangements for the release of prisoners in ongoing stages.

The head of the national delegation, Ansar Allah spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, stated that the meeting addressed the “humanitarian and political arrangements for the comprehensive solution, as well as stages of the prisoner release arrangements in continuous steps leading to the full release.”

This gathering comes one year after the declaration of a ceasefire and subsequent de-escalation efforts. Despite the progress, stubbornness continues from the side of the aggression coalition and its sponsors, along with ongoing delays in implementing the requirements for a resolution, including opening airports and ports and disbursing salaries from the country’s revenues.

Abdulsalam had previously asserted that the aggression coalition insisted during the ceasefire period and its aftermath to maintain the state of war by continuing the blockade and refusing the requirements and steps for peace.

The prisoner exchange agreement, which was recently reached, is scheduled to be executed within days (specifically on the 19th and 20th of the current month of Ramadan). Another round of prisoner negotiations is planned to take place in Geneva in May.

Meanwhile, the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, concluded a visit to Muscat on Tuesday, where he met with Omani officials and the national delegation. He highlighted discussions that “addressed ways to make progress towards an inclusive political process led by Yemenis,” according to his statement.