New Round of Yemeni Talks on Detainees and Abductees Begins Tomorrow in Muscat
Yemen Monitor – Newsroom:
Informed sources confirmed the arrival of both the Yemeni government and Houthi delegations in the Omani capital, Muscat, ahead of a new round of UN-sponsored consultations on the detainees and abductees file, scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Journalist Fares Al-Himyari, citing a well-informed source, reported that the talks will continue for several days, with expectations of possible progress on some outstanding issues, given the priority this humanitarian file holds for the United Nations and the international community.
The new round comes amid heightened diplomatic activity surrounding the Yemeni crisis in recent days. Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaea Al-Zandani held a series of meetings in Riyadh with UN envoy Hans Grundberg, focused on de-escalation efforts and reviving the political process.
During the discussions, Grundberg reaffirmed the UN’s ongoing efforts to support the peace process, while Minister Al-Zandani reiterated the Yemeni government’s full cooperation with UN efforts—particularly on humanitarian issues, foremost among them the prisoner-exchange negotiations. Al-Zandani stressed the need for tangible progress that ensures the release of all detainees without exception, describing it as a humanitarian step that cannot tolerate further delay.
Grundberg’s visit to Riyadh also included intensive meetings with Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber, UAE Ambassador Mohammed Al-Zaabi, and diplomats from permanent members of the UN Security Council, as part of broader international efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the humanitarian and political tracks.
The United Nations hopes that the Muscat consultations will open the door to broader understandings on this long-stalled file, despite multiple past negotiation rounds.
