ALBAWABA- Yemeni parties have signed a major prisoner exchange agreement in Jordan in what officials describe as the largest detainee swap since the conflict in Yemen began more than a decade ago.
The agreement was reached after nearly three months of UN-mediated negotiations in Amman and builds on a broader framework reached in Muscat, Oman, in December 2025 aimed at achieving a comprehensive “all-for-all” prisoner exchange. Under the deal, more than 1,600 detainees are expected to be released by both sides in the coming days with support from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
According to statements from both parties and the UN, the internationally recognized Yemeni government will release between 1,080 and 1,100 Houthis (Ansar Allah) prisoners and detainees, while the Houthis will release between 580 and 628 prisoners and abductees affiliated with the government side.
The releases will also include seven Saudi and 20 Sudanese prisoners held by the Houthis. Officials said the parties finalized detainee lists and implementation procedures during the Amman talks.
The agreement also includes the formation of a joint committee to investigate the fate of prominent Yemeni politician Muhammad Qahtan, who has been missing since his detention by the Houthis in 2015. Reports further indicate that the Houthis will release lawyer and human rights defender Fatima Al-Aruli, who had previously been sentenced to death.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed the agreement, describing it as an important humanitarian step and evidence that dialogue can address the urgent needs of affected families. He expressed hope that the deal would pave the way for further detainee releases, expanded prison visits, and progress toward a comprehensive exchange process.
The Yemen conflict escalated in 2014 after the Houthi armedmen seized the capital Sana’a and large parts of northern Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015, allegedly, in support of the government against the Iran-backed Houthis. The war has since triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, causing widespread displacement, economic collapse, famine risks, and disease outbreaks, while leaving hundreds of thousands dead.
Although previous prisoner exchanges took place in 2020 and 2023 under UN auspices, implementation of broader agreements, including provisions under the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, has repeatedly stalled.
The latest accord is being viewed as a significant humanitarian breakthrough and a potential confidence-building measure amid ongoing political deadlock. The success of the agreement will depend on timely and transparent implementation, as thousands of detainees are still believed to be held by different parties to the conflict.
