Yemen parties agree under UN mediation to release 1,600 detainees

The agreement, announced on Thursday by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, follows 14 weeks of negotiations held under United Nations auspices in Amman and is expected to reunite thousands of families separated by more than a decade of conflict.

“This is a moment of profound relief for thousands of Yemenis who have endured long and painful waits [for] the return of their family members,” Mr. Grundberg said in a statement.

Millions affected by crisis

Yemen has been devastated by conflict since 2014, when Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis, seized the capital Sana’a, triggering a wider war that has fueled one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Millions of Yemenis remain dependent on aid, while the conflict has displaced millions of people and severely damaged the country’s economy and infrastructure.

The detainee agreement was reached through the Supervisory Committee established under the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, in which the parties committed to releasing all conflict-related detainees under the principle of “all-for-all.”

UN’s central role

The United Nations played a central role in facilitating the negotiations, which continued through Ramadan, Eid and a period of heightened regional tensions, according to Mr. Grundberg.

“These negotiations have been extraordinarily complex,” he told reporters. “They required persistence, flexibility, and willingness by all sides.”

The UN Special Envoy’s office coordinated the talks alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which co-chairs the supervisory committee and will help oversee implementation of the release operation.

Mr. Grundberg thanked Jordan for hosting the talks, and credited earlier negotiations held in Oman and Switzerland for paving the way to the agreement. He also acknowledged the financial and political support from several international partners, including the European Union, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Implementation phase

The next phase will focus on carrying out the releases, with the parties agreeing to an implementation plan developed with the ICRC. The sides also committed to reconvening for further negotiations, conducting joint visits to detention facilities and ensuring access to detainees.

“This outcome is a clear demonstration of what sustained and determined negotiations can produce,” Mr. Grundberg said.

“It proves that when the parties choose to engage in dialogue, they can deliver on the priorities that weigh most heavily on Yemeni families and build confidence for the wider peace process.”

Call for release of UN personnel

The UN envoy also renewed calls for the release of UN personnel and others arbitrarily detained in Yemen.

“I hope that today’s momentum can help advance the release of UN and other colleagues who remain in arbitrary detention,” he said.

Mr. Grundberg also expressed hope that the agreement could help build confidence between the parties and support efforts towards sustainable peace in Yemen.