Saudi Arabia supports emptying Yemen's prisons with a historic prisoner exchange agreement

Intensive efforts towards emptying Yemen's prisons

The head of the Yemeni government delegation in the prisoner exchange negotiations praised the significant efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the issue of prisoners and detainees, emphasizing that the Kingdom strongly supports efforts to completely empty Yemeni prisons of prisoners. These statements highlight the pivotal role Riyadh plays in bridging the gaps between the Yemeni parties, striving to resolve one of the most complex humanitarian issues in the Yemeni crisis.

The historical context of the prisoners' issue in Yemen

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Yemen in late 2014, the issue of prisoners and the forcibly disappeared has been a deep wound in Yemeni society. The past years have witnessed multiple rounds of negotiations, most notably the Stockholm Agreement of 2018, which laid the groundwork for prisoner exchanges. As the conflict continues, the number of detainees has increased, creating an urgent need for serious regional and international interventions to resolve this purely humanitarian issue, separate from political and military rivalries.

Details of the largest prisoner exchange agreement

In an exclusive statement to Al Arabiya, the head of the government delegation explained that the recent prisoner exchange agreement is the largest ever since the beginning of the crisis. He noted that this achievement was not a coincidence, but rather the culmination of 100 days of arduous and intensive negotiations. He confirmed that the implementation of the release agreement will take place in three successive and carefully planned phases to ensure the integrity of the procedures, emphasizing that work is ongoing and diligent to release all prisoners and detainees without exception, amidst a clear commitment from all parties involved to turn the page on this painful chapter.

Saudi Arabia welcomes and continues to support peace

Regionally, Saudi Arabia was quick to welcome the agreement signed in the Jordanian capital, Amman. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement expressing its strong support for this positive development. The Ministry considered the agreement a direct contribution to alleviating the humanitarian suffering of detainees and their families, and a crucial step towards building trust between the Yemeni parties, thus opening the door to genuine opportunities for achieving security and stability.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its statement, commended the efforts exerted by all parties involved to reach this agreement. It also expressed its special thanks to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its generous efforts and for hosting the rounds of negotiations over the past months, which provided a neutral and positive environment for dialogue.

The role of international organizations and the expected impact

The Saudi statement did not neglect to praise the vital role played by international organizations, as the Kingdom appreciated the efforts made by the Office of the Special Envoy of the United Nations to Yemen, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which usually handles the logistical aspects and secures the transfer of prisoners between different airports.

This agreement has a significant impact on several levels:

• Locally: It ends the suffering of thousands of Yemeni families who have waited for years for their sons to return, and strengthens social cohesion.
• Regionally: It confirms the success of Saudi diplomacy in managing crises and the shift towards establishing the foundations of peace in the region.
• Internationally: It is in line with UN Security Council resolutions and UN efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement that ends the war in Yemen.

In closing, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated its continued support for all efforts aimed at achieving comprehensive peace, security and stability, in order to meet the aspirations of the brotherly Yemeni people for a better and more prosperous future.