Yemeni Official Condemns Obstruction of Prisoner Exchange as Contradictory to Peace Claims
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Abdulaziz al-Tarab, advisor to Yemen‘s Supreme Political Council in Sanaa, told Sputnik news agency that the countries involved in the coalition against Yemen have been insincere and are stalling the prisoner exchange process.
Al-Tarab noted that 2026 could be a crucial year for regional stability and security, but firmly opposes any extension of the ceasefire.
He urged the coalition to reassess its actions since the start of the intervention and blockade of Yemen, and to move away from what he described as adventurous approaches and political stubbornness.
Al-Tarab stressed that if the coalition genuinely seeks peace and stability in the region, it must promptly fulfill its commitments made within the framework of Omani mediation.
Nasr al-Din Amer, deputy head of the Ansarallah media delegation, had previously reported positive progress in ongoing talks in Muscat with representatives of the Aden-based government regarding prisoner swaps.
He stated that discussions in Muscat between their delegation and the opposing side, the Aden-based government, concerning the prisoner issue are continuing under the supervision of Hans Grundberg, the United Nations envoy for Yemen.
The prisoner exchange has been a central point of negotiations between Sanaa and the coalition countries in recent years, but despite initial agreements, it has been repeatedly halted due to delays and obstructions.
The war in Yemen began in 2015 with the military intervention of the Saudi and UAE-led coalition, backed directly by the United States, resulting in a comprehensive blockade, infrastructure bombings, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
In recent years, Sanaa and the coalition have held several rounds of talks, mainly mediated by Oman, covering political, humanitarian, and security issues. Yemeni officials maintain that the coalition’s delays and excessive demands have hindered the full implementation of agreements, particularly regarding prisoner exchanges, lifting the blockade, and paying salaries.
