ICRC postpones exchange of prisoners in Yemen, including Sudanese

April 8, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The exchange of prisoners between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, which includes three Sudanese soldiers, has been postponed to April 14.

Sudan joined the Saudi-led Arab coalition forces to restore legitimacy in Yemen in 2015. Khartoum sent thousands of soldiers to fight against the Houthi group in Yemen.

Last March, during a visit to Khartoum, the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the Sudanese officials about the release of several Sudanese soldiers captured in Yemen.

The prisoner swap was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 11, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) notified the parties that the operation had to be postponed to make additional arrangements for some prisoners in Yemen’s regions.

The exchange involves 235 prisoners from the coalition side, including Sudanese, Yemeni, and Saudi soldiers.

In a previous exchange in 2020, four Sudanese soldiers were released along with others from the coalition forces.

During the Yemeni foreign minister’s visit to Sudan last March, both countries agreed to share security information on the Red Sea.

The exchange of prisoners and abductees is carried out under the auspices of the United Nations.

Under the civilian government led by Abdallah Hamdok in 2019, Sudan reduced the number of its soldiers in Yemen from about 15,000 to 5,000.

(ST)