Majid Fadael, a member of the Yemeni government delegation to the prisoner and detainee exchange negotiations, said that all arrangements regarding the implementation of the exchange deal agreed with the Ansar Allah Houthi group have been completed and will be completed on time.
Fadael added in a tweet on Twitter that the operation, which was delayed by 3 days, will begin next Friday, on the 14th of this month.
The member of the government delegation said that other exchanges would follow until all detainees and abductees were released on an "all for all" basis.
Praise be to God, all arrangements have been completed and everyone is ready to implement the agreed exchange process on time, and God will complete it well, and
God willing, this exchange process will be followed by other exchanges soon until all detainees and abductees are released on an all-for-all basis and all detainees are zeroed...
— Majed Fadael (@mfadail) April 11, 2023
Fadael, who is undersecretary of the Yemeni government's human rights minister, said earlier that the Red Cross had requested an additional 3 days to complete procedures and interviews to implement the deal, which will last 3 days and will release more than 880 prisoners and detainees from the government and the Houthis, in addition to Saudi and Sudanese prisoners.
The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said on Tuesday that the "depth and seriousness" of talks between the concerned parties in Yemen, including the visit of Saudi and Omani delegations to Sanaa, was encouraging.
Saudi and Omani envoys are holding peace talks with Houthi officials in Sanaa this week as Riyadh seeks a permanent ceasefire.
Progress in consultations
The United Nations is not directly involved in the Sanaa negotiations, but hopes to resume a peaceful political process if a ceasefire agreement is reached.
"I am working with all parties involved to ensure that these efforts support UN mediation," Grundberg said.
"My role remains to consistently focus on resuming an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process. Only through such a process can a viable settlement and a future of lasting peace and development be consolidated."
The talks in Sanaa signal some progress in ongoing Oman-mediated consultations between Saudi and Houthi officials, which are taking place in parallel with UN peace efforts.
Peace initiatives gained momentum after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore relations with Chinese mediation.
Sources who asked not to be identified told Reuters that talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis were focused on the full reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, payment of salaries to government employees from oil revenues, reconstruction efforts and a timetable for the exit of foreign troops from the country.
Grundberg said he would welcome any bilateral contacts that would provide a "better environment for the start of a political process."