Yemeni gov't, Houthis resume detainee talks in Oman

13/12/2025 7:21

A new round of talks between Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Houthi group on the release of detainees began on Friday in the Omani capital, Muscat, a government official told Xinhua.



The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said representatives from both sides had resumed discussions under UN auspices, with support from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.



The talks, expected to last several days, will focus on the release of detainees held by both parties. The official said early signs were positive, raising hopes for progress on a long-standing humanitarian issue.



Meanwhile, the Association of Mothers of Abductees in Yemen, a local civil society group, urged both delegations to show "a strong sense of humanitarian responsibility." In a statement, it called on negotiators to advance the consultations "in a spirit that rises above political considerations," saying years of deadlock had worsened the suffering of detainees and their families.



The last round of detainee talks, held in Muscat in July 2024, ended without a final agreement.



Since the conflict erupted in late 2014, the United Nations has overseen multiple rounds of negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthis aimed at resolving prisoner and detainee issues.