Tribal escalation cuts off international road in front of STC vehicles in Abyan

ABYAN, June 17 (YPA) – Armed men from the Ja’adna tribes blocked the international highway, on Tuesday, blocking the passage of military vehicles belonging to the Transitional Council (STC) factions in Abyan governorate, southern Yemen.

Informed sources reported that the tribal gunmen set up checkpoints on the coastal international highway in the Dofes area of ​​Khanfar district in response to the STC factions detaining thousands of Abyan residents at the Al-Alam checkpoint and preventing them from entering Aden to participate in the “Million Man March for Justice” demanding the disclosure of the fate of Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ashal Al-Ja’adani, who was kidnapped last year.

They explained that blocking the road is a new escalation by the Abyan tribesmen after they have been demanding for nearly a year the disclosure of Ashal during peaceful sit-ins in Aden and Abyan, whose fate remains unknown to this moment.

They pointed out that the Abyan tribes will not back down from their position until their demands are met and those involved in the kidnapping and disappearance of Ashal are held accountable.

This comes after the Transitional Council factions foiled a mass event called for by the Jaadna tribes yesterday, by surrounding the parade square in Khormaksar, preventing participants from reaching the event, and suppressing them by force of arms.