Saudi and Omani Delegations Arrive in Sanaa for Ceasefire Negotiations
Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Oman arrived in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, on Saturday to negotiate a permanent ceasefire deal with Houthi officials, according to Houthi-run media. The talks aim to end Riyadh's military involvement in Yemen's long-running war and are seen as progress in the Oman-mediated consultations between the two sides. The negotiations run parallel to UN peace efforts, which have also gained momentum following the recent agreement between arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran to reestablish ties, brokered by China.
The envoys are set to meet with the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, to discuss ending hostilities and lifting the Saudi-led "blockade" on Yemeni ports, according to Houthi news agency SABA. Sources have indicated that the talks will focus on reopening Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, payment of public servants' wages, rebuilding efforts, and a timeline for foreign forces to exit the country.
The war in Yemen is widely regarded as a proxy battle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, ousted a Saudi-backed government from Sanaa in late 2014 and have since had de facto control of north Yemen, citing a desire to rise up against corruption and foreign aggression. They have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015, resulting in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and left 80% of Yemen's population dependent on humanitarian aid.
In addition to the negotiations, a prisoner exchange has been agreed upon by the warring sides. On Saturday, the Houthis announced that they had received 13 detainees released by Saudi Arabia in exchange for a Saudi detainee freed earlier. This exchange precedes a wider prisoner exchange agreed upon at talks in Switzerland last month, where the Yemeni government and the Houthis agreed to free 887 detainees.
The Saudi government media office has yet to comment on the prisoner exchange or the delegation's visit to Sanaa. However, the talks are being closely monitored by the international community, which hopes for a lasting ceasefire and an end to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
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