Yemen Monitor / Marib / Exclusive:
Two sources stated that an agreement has been reached between the Houthi group and the Yemeni government to begin a prisoner and detainee exchange process under the auspices of the United Nations.
Speaking to Yemen Monitor on Friday, the sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
One source from the Houthis and another from the Yemeni government, both familiar with the details, stated that lists for more than 2,000 prisoners and detainees have been finalized as part of the exchange process. This move is planned within a broader framework related to the “Roadmap.”
While the sources did not specify an exact final number, they mentioned it could reach into the thousands, and the exchange will follow Muscat Agreement.
The sources indicated that the exchange mechanism will be supervised by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), similar to the last major exchange. They explained that intensive back-channel consultations in the Sultanate of Oman, with the knowledge of Saudi Arabia, led to the agreement.
The sources added that a committee will be formed to finalize the remaining lists and determine the fate of others. An official from the internationally recognized government noted that the Houthis provided names of hundreds of individuals who were killed on the front lines and are not actually prisoners.
The Office of the UN Envoy has not yet commented on these reports.
The last major actual operation regarding the prisoner file in Yemen occurred in April 2023, which saw the release of approximately 900 prisoners and detainees from both sides—including high-ranking military leaders and journalists—under the auspices of the UN and the ICRC.
