Yemen Monitor | Newsroom:
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres met with Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said in the Sultanate of Oman, where they discussed the situation in Yemen and the issue of United Nations staff detained by the Houthi group.
According to the UN’s official website, Guterres discussed with the Omani leader the overall situation in Yemen, including the case of UN employees and staff of diplomatic missions and non-governmental organizations who remain arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.
The United Nations said the two sides exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, with the Secretary-General expressing his deep appreciation for Oman’s constructive diplomatic role.
The UN chief is currently on a tour of several Arab countries. He visited Saudi Arabia a few days ago, where he discussed the situations in Yemen and Sudan with the Crown Prince.
Meanwhile, consultations are underway in Muscat between a government delegation and the Houthis on the file of prisoners and detainees, under UN auspices. These talks have drawn criticism over what has been described as a complicit UN role, alongside calls to exclude the head of the Houthi delegation due to his alleged involvement in violations against detainees.
Oman has previously led mediation efforts with the Houthis that resulted in the release of several detainees of various nationalities, including an American journalist.
