Abyan (Debriefer) - A prisoner swap started on Thursday between the Yemeni UN-recognized government and the Emirati-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Abyan, said local sources in the southern governorate.
The swap was mediated by a local committee of tribal sheikhs and social leaders in the governorate.
The persistent clashes there have delayed the release of 178 government captive troops in exchange for 28 STC prisoners in Aden, according to media sources.
Late last July, the two parties signed a mechanism to accelerate the Riyadh Agreement's application, providing for the STC to retreat its self-governance and a new government be equally shared between north and south.
In August 2019, Aden saw fierce infighting that ended up with the STC repelling the official government and seizing the Yemeni interim capital.
