Yemen Prisoner Exchange Deal Stalls Amid Mutual Accusations

ADEN — The Yemeni government and Houthi movement announced Friday that the planned prisoner and detainee exchange, scheduled for Saturday, has been delayed indefinitely, with both sides trading blame for the failure.

Hadi Haig, head of the government’s negotiating team on detainees, told the official Saba news agency that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN envoy’s office had informed the government of the Houthis’ refusal to proceed with the exchange on time. 

He said the government had completed all necessary preparations despite what he described as “obstructions” by the Houthis.

Haig accused the group of exploiting the humanitarian file for “political, military, and economic blackmail,” adding that the delay undermines efforts to ease the suffering of detainees and their families.

In response, Abdulqader al-Murtada, head of the Houthi National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, told the Houthi-run Saba agency that the postponement was due to government “stalling” in fulfilling agreed commitments. 

He claimed the Houthis had met all obligations and were ready to proceed, but the other side refused to include additional prisoners in its custody, blocking implementation.

The setback highlights the fragility of ongoing mediation efforts under UN auspices, as both sides continue to accuse each other of undermining agreements intended to build confidence and address humanitarian concerns in Yemen’s protracted conflict.