Barran Press
The head of Yemen's Islah Party, Mohammed al-Yadumi, expressed his discontent with the recent prisoner exchange agreement reached in Muscat, Oman, criticizing the lack of representation for the internationally recognized Yemeni government in the negotiations.
Al-Yadumi, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) seen by Barran Press, highlighted a directive issued by the Yemeni Presidential Office on June 25th, instructing the negotiating team to prioritize the release of politician Mohammed Qahtan or at least demand information about his fate. He stated that despite this directive, the Houthi delegation in Muscat "spoke with one voice," implying a lack of leverage for the government team.
The Islah Party leader's comments come after the UN announced an "understanding" reached between the Yemeni government and Houthi negotiators regarding the release of detainees, including al-Qahtaan. The UN stated that the negotiations are ongoing in a "positive and constructive atmosphere" and emphasized the need for a "spirit of responsibility" to achieve a comprehensive release of all detainees based on the "all for all" principle.
The government delegation, led by Majid Fadil, confirmed the agreement, stating that 50 Houthi prisoners would be exchanged for al-Qahtaan, who has been held captive for over nine years. The Houthi delegation, led by Abdulqader al-Murtada, also confirmed the agreement, stating that if al-Qahtaan is deceased, his body would be exchanged for 50 government detainees.
The Islah Party, through its spokesperson Adnan al-Adaini, stated that they have "confirmed information" that al-Qahtaan is still alive and held in Houthi prisons. Al-Adaini placed full responsibility for al-Qahtaan's safety on the Houthis, calling for his immediate release as a "top priority."
The prisoner exchange negotiations in Muscat began on June 30th under UN auspices. During the opening session, the head of the government negotiating team, Yahya Kazman, linked the success of the negotiations to the resolution of al-Qahtaan's case, calling it a "major obstacle" that must be addressed before moving towards a broader solution.
Al-Qahtaan, a prominent leader in the Islah Party, is one of four individuals named in UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015) whose release the Houthis were ordered to secure. He was abducted from his home in Sana'a on April 5th, 2015, after being placed under house arrest by the Houthis. His family has been unable to contact him since his detention.
The recent prisoner exchange agreement follows a previous exchange in April 2023, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, which saw the release of over 900 prisoners from both sides.