Can new Yemeni talks in Muscat finally break prisoner exchange deadlock?

SANAA, Dec. 12 (YPA) – After more than two years of deadlock in the prisoners file, preparations are underway in the Omani capital, Muscat, to launch a new round of talks between Sanaa and the Saudi-led coalition on the prisoner file, under the auspices of the United Nations.

Sources  familiar with the matters previously told “Yemen Press Agency” that the negotiations, which are scheduled to begin today—Friday—will be held under United Nations sponsorship to establish clear implementation mechanisms for any future agreement and to focus on discussing ways to achieve a mutual release of prisoners from both sides.

It is worth noting that Sanaa had announced earlier this December, in a joint meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Wahid Abu Ras and the Head of the National Committee for Prisoners Affairs, Abdul-Qader al-Murtadha, its readiness to resume negotiations on the prisoner file with the coalition, aiming for a comprehensive exchange of all prisoners from both parties.

Despite repeated calls from Sanaa regarding its readiness to conclude a comprehensive exchange deal for all prisoners held by both sides and end this humanitarian suffering, pro-coalition parties have not responded to these calls. The coalition remains insistent on keeping the prisoner file open and continuing to use it as a political leverage and bargaining chip.

The question being raised is: Will this round lead to a comprehensive prisoner exchange agreement between Sanaa and the coalition, and will the pro- coalition parties stop obstructing this file, or will they continue their obstructive approach? The coming days will provide the answer to this.

@E.Y.M