Representatives from Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the internationally recognised government held direct talks for the first time in Sweden on Sunday in what is seen as another positive step towards finding peace.
The UN-led negotiations in the Swedish village of Rimbo have so far resulted in an agreement of a prisoner swap, but the fate of Hodeidah and its port, a valuable front line, has proven to be a sticking point in the consultations, according to a UN official.
"Hodeidah has proven to be the most difficult," the UN source said, adding that progress on control of the port was crucial to ending the war.
The government has demanded a complete Houthi withdrawal from the city, which the rebels have repeatedly rejected.
UN Envoy Martin Griffiths and his team have shuttled between representatives of the rebels and the government during the previous three days talks.
Sunday's face-to-face talks focused on a prisoner swap deal, a member of the government delegation told The National on the sidelines of the talks. He said the head of the government's committee for prisoner swaps and the head the rebel's committee on the same issue met to discuss the deal.
All members of both committees were supposed to be part of the meeting, but the government objected to the larger meeting because the Houthi representative heading the prisoner swap file was not an official delegate.
"We are very keen as the government of Yemen to have real progress on this issue, but there was a technical problem this morning because the head of the Houthi committee on prisoner exchange is not part of the rebel delegation, and we have insisted that we would consult only with official Houthi delegates," said Ali Ashaal, a member of the government delegation, told The National.
Because of the objection, the meeting was limited to only the two men because it was the only way to move forward, Mr Ashaal said.
The government delegate said they will soon issue a list of people it wants released from Houthi prisons. He said that the deal will be implemented within the next few days, expressing hopes that some high-ranking military and political officials may be released soon as a gesture of "good will."
As per the swap agreement, Houthis are expected in the coming days to release three high ranking commanders with the Yemeni army, including Gen Mahmood Al Soubaihi, the former minister of defence and Maj Gen Naser Mansour Hadi, Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi's brother, a Yemeni government official told The National.
Houthis will also release the leader of Yemen's Islamist Al Islah party, Mohammed Qahtan, the official said.
The commanders and Mr Qahtan were all kidnapped by rebels in 2015.
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Abdullah Mahmood Al Soubaihi, the younger son of the former defence minister, told The National that some officials in the government had told his family that his father was going to be released soon as part of the swap, but he has yet to receive official confirmation from the government or the coalition.
Members of the Saudi-led coalition, including Saudi troops who were captured during battles on the Saudi-Yemeni border, will also be released as part of the agreement.
"The prisoner swap agreement which was signed in the last few days includes all the detainees who were captured by the Houthi militia since the war erupted in March 2015," Mohammed Askar the minister of Human Rights in the Yemeni government told the National.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam said his delegation is open to more talks with the government if progress is made during the coming days.
"If we leave these consultations having made progress - progress in building confidence and finding a framework - we can hold a new round of talks" in the coming months, Mr Abdelsalam told reporters.
The UN envoy has outlined three initial objectives for talks in Sweden: securing confidence-building measures including a prisoner swap; the reopening of the airport in the capital, Sanaa; and securing UN administration of the strategic Red Sea port of Hodeidah, through which almost 80 per cent of international aid enters the country.
The consultations are expected to last until December 14, according to the government delegate, with both sides under pressure to agree on confidence-building measures that will allow formal peace negotiations to resume.
The government has set up six committees to address issues regarding the proposed prisoner exchange, the port of Hodeidah, Sanaa airport, the economy, lifting the siege of Taez, and the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Specs
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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7pm: Flood Zone
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How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis