Yemen Monitor/ Newsroom:
Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, said on Thursday that he is determined to protect the progress made so far on the roadmap and focus on the prospects for peace in Yemen.
In a statement, the UN envoy confirmed that he had concluded his visit to Sana’a, where he discussed with Houthi leaders the renewal of engagement in the political process, with a focus on addressing challenges and exploring opportunities to enhance peace in the complex regional context.
Grundberg emphasized in his meetings the importance of reducing national and regional escalation to create a conducive environment for dialogue, calling for the need to agree on concrete measures to pave the way forward for a political process to achieve sustainable peace and stability throughout Yemen.
The statement indicated that the discussions highlighted the importance of taking measures to address economic challenges and improve living conditions, as well as strengthening preparations for a ceasefire, which are essential components of the roadmap and reaching a political solution that meets the aspirations of Yemenis.
According to the statement, the discussions were based on the progress made during the negotiations held in the Sultanate of Oman in July 2024 regarding the file of detainees linked to the conflict.
The UN envoy affirmed that the file is vital for building trust between the parties and moving forward in implementing previous commitments, stressing the importance of prioritizing this humanitarian issue as a step towards strengthening trust that can help enable broader agreements and demonstrate commitment to peace efforts.
The statement indicated that the UN envoy visited the home of the family of one of his staff members (described in the statement as “Grundberg’s colleague”) who was arbitrarily arrested by the Houthis in 2024, according to the statement.
Grundberg expressed his sincere sympathy and condolences to the family for what they had endured during this difficult period, and offered his support. He also briefed the family on the UN’s efforts to release all arbitrarily detained staff members and expressed solidarity with the families of other detainees, recognizing their shared suffering and the urgent need to release their loved ones.
In all his discussions, the UN envoy strongly urged the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release individuals detained by the UN, NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions, emphasizing that arbitrary detention is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of international law.
He added: “We must protect the role of civil society and humanitarian workers, as they make vital contributions to achieving peace and rebuilding Yemen.”
