Egypt hails Yemen prisoner exchange agreement as ‘key humanitarian step’

CAIRO - 24 December 2025: Egypt welcomed the recent agreement reached in Oman for an exchange of prisoners and detainees in Yemen, describing it as a key humanitarian step aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

In a statement by the foreign ministry on Wednesday, Egypt described the deal as “a ray of hope” for unifying the Yemenis ranks and shaping a comprehensive national vision.

Egypt hopes that this vision would lead to “a serious political process to end the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and fulfill their legitimate aspirations for security, stability, and development.”

The large-scale prisoner swap agreement, reached on Tuesday, provides for the release of around 1,700 Houthi prisoners in return for 1,200 detainees held by the Yemeni government, according to Abdulqader Hasan Yahya al-Murtadha, head of the Houthi National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs.

The UN special envoy to Yemen noted that the deal was finalized following a 12-day round of talks hosted by the Omani capital, Muscat.

The prisoner swap is expected to be the largest of its kind since the start of the Yemeni crisis more than a decade ago and is viewed as a potential step toward de-escalation and renewed political dialogue.

The Egyptian foreign ministry commended Oman’s role in facilitating the negotiations.

Egypt also acknowledged the contributions of the UN special envoy’s office, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and all parties involved in reaching the accord.