UN envoy praises Muscat talks, warns of fragile truce in Yemen
SANAA, Jan. 15 (YPA) – UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said that in recent months Yemen has experienced a series of rapid and significant developments that have reshaped the country’s political and security landscape.
Speaking during his briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday, he explained that the current period of relative calm is the result of a de-escalation that has been in place since 2022, noting that this moment represents an opportunity that requires sustained political leadership to turn fragile stability into a lasting solution.
Grundberg described the situation in southern Yemen as a fragile imbalance, warning that security conditions in parts of the South remain unstable.
He stressed that achieving sustainable and tangible solutions for Yemen depends not only on genuine readiness from Yemeni parties, but also on unified and coordinated regional support. He emphasized that the future of the Yemeni South couldn’t be determined by force, and that it was ultimately the responsibility of Yemenis, representing the full diversity of views, to address this complex issue.
The UN envoy noted that Yemen’s political, economic, and security challenges are deeply interconnected, and that progress in one area cannot be sustained without parallel progress in the others.
For this reason, he underlined the need for an inclusive, nationwide political process that allows Yemenis to collectively discuss and negotiate these issues, rather than addressing them in isolation.
Grundberg welcomed the outcomes of the meeting held last month in Muscat, saying it demonstrated what political will for peaceful negotiations can achieve.
Under UN auspices, the parties agreed on the number of detainees to be released in the next phase, as part of their commitment to release all detainees in accordance with the principle of “all for all.” He noted that further work remains, including agreement on the names of those to be released, which the parties have already begun addressing.
The UN official praised the role of Oman for hosting the talks and to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its vital role.
Grundberg concluded by stressing the importance of unified support from the Security Council for a UN-facilitated political process, describing it as a critical opportunity to move decisively toward stability and a comprehensive peace, rather than a return to confrontation.
AA