The latest round of prisoner exchange negotiations between the Yemeni Internationally recognized government (IRG) and the Houthi rebels concluded Saturday in Muscat, Oman, without reaching a comprehensive agreement, according to spokespersons from both sides.
The seven-day talks were conducted under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), aiming to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding prisoners in the conflict-ridden nation.
Majid Fadail, the spokesman for the Yemeni IRG delegation, said that while no final agreement was reached, the talks "achieved some breakthroughs in the issue of abductees and forcibly disappeared persons."
The Houthi rebels delegation confirmed that some points of agreement were reached, including resolving the case of Mohamed Qahtan, a Yemeni politician who has been held by the Houthis for nine years.
Both sides have expressed commitment to continuing dialogue, with the next round of talks scheduled to take place after a two-month preparation period.
During this time, the parties are expected to focus on completing and approving detainee lists, laying the groundwork for potential breakthroughs in future negotiations.
The current round follows a series of UN-sponsored talks between the Yemeni IRG and Houthis over the years. The most recent discussions, held in Amman in June 2023, ended without an agreement.
However, a previous round in Switzerland in March 2023 led to a successful prisoner exchange in April 2023, resulting in the release of over 800 prisoners and detainees from both warring Yemeni sides.