Michigan – The American Center for Justice (ACJ) expresses its deep regret and serious concern over the delay in implementing the prisoner and detainee exchange agreement signed between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group on December 23, 2025, in the Omani capital, Muscat, under United Nations auspices. This concern comes despite the passage of a full month since the announcement of the agreement and the failure to commence its first phase, which was scheduled to begin on January 27, 2026, in accordance with the agreed timeline.
ACJ states that the continued stalemate and the absence of any tangible indicators of progress in implementing the agreement undermine the humanitarian objectives for which it was concluded. This delay leaves thousands of detainees and their families hostage to prolonged suffering, amid harsh detention conditions and ongoing violations of fundamental rights guaranteed under international humanitarian law.
The Center is closely monitoring, with concern, the exchange of statements between the two parties regarding alleged unpreparedness of documentation or delays in submitting detainee lists, alongside a lack of clarity concerning actual responsibility for the delay. Such ambiguity raises legitimate questions about the seriousness of the parties’ commitment to implementing the agreement in a purely humanitarian spirit, free from political or negotiating considerations.
The American Center for Justice calls on the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen to continue its efforts to facilitate the implementation of the agreement, to provide public clarifications regarding the reasons for the delay, and to assist in addressing the technical and procedural obstacles hindering the commencement of the release process. These steps are essential to enhancing transparency and building trust among detainees’ families and the wider public.
The Center further urges both the Yemeni government and the Houthi group to fully adhere to the terms of the signed agreement, expedite the completion of final detainee lists in an accurate and verifiable manner, and immediately proceed with the release process without further delay. The issue of prisoners and detainees, ACJ emphasizes, is a purely humanitarian matter that must not be subject to procrastination or exploited as a tool of political pressure.
ACJ affirms that the implementation of the agreement constitutes a necessary humanitarian step to alleviate the suffering of victims and their families. It also represents an important element in supporting confidence-building efforts and creating a conducive environment for any serious political process leading to a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Yemen. The Center reiterates that respect for human dignity and the rights of detainees must remain a non-negotiable priority that cannot be postponed.
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