The ninth round of prisoner and detainee negotiations, which concluded on Saturday in the Omani capital, has seen a significant breakthrough, according to the office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen.

The UN office announced in a statement that the parties reached an understanding on the release of politician Mohammed Qahtan, a point of contention for years. The statement further revealed that the parties agreed to hold a subsequent meeting to finalize the list of detainees to be released and arrange Qahtan's release.

UN Envoy Hans Grundberg expressed optimism about the progress, stating that "thousands of Yemenis are waiting to be reunited with their loved ones." However, he acknowledged that "despite the positive progress, there is still much to be done, and at a faster pace, to alleviate the suffering of these families."

Grundberg urged the parties to continue working with his office to complete the implementation plan, including finalizing the list of detainees and agreeing on further release operations. He expressed gratitude to Oman for hosting the meeting and commended its continued support for UN mediation efforts in Yemen.

The UN envoy reiterated the UN's call for an end to the arbitrary detention of civilians and for the respect of Yemeni citizens' rights under international law. He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of UN staff, aid workers, and civil society members arbitrarily detained in Sana'a, who remain imprisoned without access to the outside world.

The UN remains committed to this crucial work of reuniting Yemeni families with their loved ones held captive due to the conflict, Grundberg emphasized.

"While we continue this mission, we must also denounce the arbitrary detention of all civilians and express our sorrow for the suffering of their families and loved ones. Their immediate and unconditional release is the only acceptable option," he added.

Previous Negotiations

The ninth round of prisoner negotiations concluded on Saturday, July 6th, between the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group, without clear results.

Government Negotiator Majid Fadail stated that the consultations, facilitated by the UN, achieved significant breakthroughs regarding the issue of detainees and those forcibly disappeared.

However, Fadail accused the Houthi delegation of "derailing any exchange in this round because they do not value prisoners and their families."

Fadail, who is also the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Rights, indicated that a follow-up round will be held within two months, preceded by an exchange of lists of detainees and the convergence of positions under the auspices of the UN envoy's office.

Mohammed Qahtan

Qahtan is a prominent leader of the Yemeni Islah Party, the largest pro-government party in Yemen. He was 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, days after placing him under house arrest. His family has stated that they are unaware of his fate or location and have had no contact with him since his detention.