The Yemeni government delegation negotiating the prisoner exchange file announced the conclusion of consultations held in Muscat, Oman, under UN auspices, on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

Majid Fadil, the spokesperson for the government delegation, stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), seen by Barran Press, that the consultations "achieved some important breakthroughs in the file of abductees and forcibly disappeared persons." He accused the Houthi delegation of "sabotaging any exchange in this round, as they do not value prisoners and their families."

Fadil, who is also the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, indicated that a "complementary round will be held within two months, preceded by the exchange of lists of detainees and abductees and reaching consensus on them under the auspices of the UN envoy to Yemen."

Meanwhile, the head of the Houthi negotiating delegation, Abdulqader Al-Murtada, stated that the conclusion of the Muscat consultations came "after agreeing on some points, most importantly resolving the issue of politician Mohammed Qahtan and exchanging some prisoner lists."

Al-Murtada added, "Due to time constraints, it was agreed to resume negotiations after two months, with both sides focusing their attention during this period on completing and approving the lists until the next round."

The exact number of prisoners and detainees held by both sides is currently unknown. However, during consultations in Stockholm in 2018, the government and Houthi delegations presented lists of over 15,000 prisoners and detainees.

Last Wednesday, the delegations of the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, announced understandings in Muscat negotiations for the release of politician Mohammed Qahtan in exchange for 50 Houthi prisoners or 50 bodies if he is deceased.

The possibilities surrounding Qahtan's fate, who has been held captive in Houthi prisons for over nine years, have sparked outrage among Yemenis and politicians, particularly Qahtan's family and the Yemeni Islah Party, against the government negotiating team. They accused the team of "overriding presidential directives that obligated them not to proceed with any agreement before revealing Qahtan's fate."

Deputy Head of the Consultative and Reconciliation Council, Abdulmalik Al-Mikhlafi, stated, "It is politically unacceptable to agree on agreements about Qahtan's fate based on possibilities, as disclosing his whereabouts precedes any agreement."

The head of the Supreme Council of the Yemeni Islah Party, Mohammed Al-Yadoumi, said, "We hoped that the legitimacy would have someone representing it in this meeting." He added, "On June 25, 2024, Yahya Al-Shuaibi, the director of the Presidential Office, issued a directive to the negotiating team on prisoners and forcibly disappeared persons, emphasizing that they should not conclude any exchange deal that does not include the release of Mohammed Qahtan or at least reveal his fate."

The Islah Party leader added, "After this directive, a meeting was held in Muscat with the Houthi militia, who spoke with one voice. We hoped that the legitimacy would have someone representing it in this meeting," indicating his dissatisfaction with the stance of the government negotiating team.

On Sunday, June 30, 2024, a new round of prisoner exchange negotiations between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, began in Muscat, Oman, under UN supervision.

In the opening session of the consultations on Sunday, the head of the government negotiating delegation, Yahya Kazman, linked the success of the consultations to the disclosure of the fate of politician Mohammed Qahtan.

Kazman explained that the participation aims to "release and exchange politician Mohammed Qahtan," whom he described as "a fundamental obstacle whose issue must be resolved, and then we can move on to a broader process and close this humanitarian file by releasing all detainees and abductees held by all parties without exception."

Qahtan is a prominent leader of the Yemeni Islah Party, the largest political party in the country, and one of four individuals whom UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 demanded the Houthis release.

The Houthis arrested Qahtan from his home in Sana'a on April 5, 2015, after placing him under house arrest days earlier. His family says they do not know his fate or whereabouts and have not been able to contact him since his detention.

In April 2023, the government and the Houthis carried out the latest prisoner exchange, in which about 900 prisoners and detainees from both sides were released, mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations, following negotiations in Switzerland.