Saudi Arabia welcomes the Muscat agreement for the exchange of prisoners in Yemen

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its welcome and appreciation for the agreement reached by the Yemeni parties in the Omani capital, Muscat, which stipulates the exchange of a number of detainees and prisoners, in an important humanitarian step that reflects progress in the path of building trust between the Yemeni parties.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement that this agreement represents a new glimmer of hope to end the humanitarian suffering of many Yemeni families who are waiting for the return of their sons, appreciating the great efforts made by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, in facilitating these negotiations and bringing the viewpoints closer.

General context and historical background of the prisoners' file

The issue of prisoners and detainees is one of the most complex and sensitive aspects of the ongoing Yemeni crisis. While it has consistently hindered political negotiations, it has also served as a crucial avenue for diplomatic breakthroughs. The past few years have witnessed several rounds of negotiations, most notably the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, which established a framework for prisoner exchanges. This was followed by actual exchanges, the largest of which took place in April 2023, resulting in the release of hundreds of detainees from both sides.

The current Muscat round comes as a continuation of those efforts, as the Sultanate of Oman plays a pivotal role as a trusted regional mediator, hosting rounds of dialogue to bring viewpoints closer, which enhances the chances of success for humanitarian and political initiatives.

The importance of the agreement and its expected impact

The importance of this agreement is not limited to the humanitarian aspect alone, but extends to include political and security dimensions of great importance at the local, regional and international levels:

• On the local level: Releasing the detainees contributes to easing public tension and building bridges of lost trust between the legitimate government and the Houthi group, which is a prerequisite for any future negotiations regarding a permanent ceasefire.
• On the regional level: The agreement reflects the success of Saudi and Omani diplomacy in containing crises, and confirms the desire of the coalition countries to support the path of peace and stability in Yemen, in line with the Saudi initiative to end the crisis.
• On the international level: This agreement sends a positive message to the international community and the Security Council that a political solution in Yemen is possible, which encourages donors and international organizations to intensify humanitarian and economic support for Yemen in the post-conflict phase.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry concluded its statement by reaffirming the Kingdom’s firm and supportive stance towards all efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, based on the three references: the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216, in a way that guarantees the security and stability of Yemen and the entire region.