Amman, 19 October 2024 – Over a two-day visit in Washington DC on 17 and 18 October, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, discussed with senior U.S. officials recent developments on Yemen and ways to advance a UN-led, Yemeni-owned comprehensive political process amidst regional military escalation that jeopardises peace prospects. 

During the discussions, Grundberg underscored the importance of preserving progress achieved through the commitments of the parties for a nationwide ceasefire, improving living conditions in Yemen, and restart of political negotiations. He stressed that unified and sustained regional and international support to help the parties finalize a UN roadmap, building on those commitments is essential. 

The sides also discussed the arbitrary detention by Ansar Allah of dozens of personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions and the referral of several of those to ‘criminal prosecution’. The UN Envoy re-iterated his call for their immediate and unconditional release and briefed on the ongoing United Nations efforts toward that goal. 

Special Envoy Hans Grundberg met in DC with: Administrator of USAID Samantha Power, Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass, Assistant to the President and National Security ​​​​Advisor to the US Vice President Phil Gordon, National Security Council Coordinator for Middle East & North Africa Brett McGurk, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel B. Shapiro, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs  Brian Grimm.