In Yemen, an exchange of prisoners could pave the way for new negotiations

With the exchange of prisoners between the Shiite rebels and the government of Yemen, involving about 1000 fighters on each side, the United Nations seeks to foster mutual trust between the two sides to promote negotiations aimed at ending a bloody war, which has been going on for six years. The exchange is proceeding, as confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, but the operations are not short, however they will allow the fighters to reunite with their families; this aspect is seen as essential to restore the necessary climate to proceed, then on the path of diplomacy instead of that of arms. Among the soldiers who will be affected by the liberation there are Saudi and also Sudanese soldiers, as the African country supports the coalition, headed by Saudi Arabia, which since 2015, has supported the government that the Huti rebels, of Shiite religion, they have ousted from leading the country. The current contingent situation, with the pandemic that has hit globally, has brought as a direct consequence to the Yemeni conflict the repercussions of the decrease in humanitarian aid in a scenario already compromised, in addition to the war, by a very serious health situation, which we must add the conditions of food famine that the population is suffering. These general conditions, together with the substantial stalemate in the fighting, which did not favor either of the two contenders, favored the exchange of prisoners already agreed in Stockholm. The specific numbers of this exchange concern the release of 681 Shiite rebel fighters, against 400 soldiers from the forces that support the government, plus nineteen foreign fighters, of which fifteen Saudis and four Sudanese. The activity of the Red Cross materially allowed the exchange thanks to medical visits, health supplies and clothing as well as sums of money necessary for the return to their respective homes. Meanwhile, the Huti released three US people who were hostage to Shiite militias. The Yemeni conflict does not enjoy the media exposure of the Syrian war or that conducted against the Islamic State, however, according to the United Nations, it is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The country’s poverty, which was going through a complicated situation already in peacetime, has favored the rapid decline in the quality of life created by the conflict and aggravated by the consequent health and food situation, in this scenario the particular violence exerted by the coalition against the rebels, it has often hit civilians, causing deaths and injuries, including through the indiscriminate bombing of schools and hospitals. Particularly violent was the action of the Saudi armed forces, which showed their total lack of respect for the population; despite this fury, the coalition led by Saudi Arabia has failed to overcome the rebels. The action of the United Nations has concentrated on two paths: the first is the diplomatic one to stop hostilities, while at the same time a second practical solution was also practiced, through the creation of humanitarian corridors, which led, even if in partial way, relief from the suffering of the population. Also through the mediation between the two sides, the United Nations stopped military offensives, making it decisive for the protection of civilians. The United Nations Security Council with resolution 2216 of 2015 asked the Huti rebels to disarm and withdraw from the conquered regions, but without offering anything in exchange for the territory taken; for the vision of the rebels it is necessary to maintain control over large portions of territory, also to avoid the encirclement and prevent new military attacks. Even if the situation remains serious, episodes such as that of the exchange of prisoners represent important innovations for the opening of negotiations capable of leading to a peace, which would, however, remain precarious due to the presence of the radicalization of the conflict on ethnic, religious and geopolitical grounds , however, the state of prostration of the country from a negative element can become the determining cause of the need to stop weapons to allow the country, whatever its form of state and whatever will be its possible division, to try to recover through the peaceful way . However, greater involvement of the great powers alongside the United Nations would be necessary to favor this solution.