STC factions suppress protest against deteriorating services in Aden

ADEN, June 23 (YPA) – The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) factions on Monday suppressed a protest rally denouncing the deteriorating services and living conditions in front of the gate of Ma’ashiq Palace, the headquarters of the Presidential Leadership Council and the government loyal to the Saudi-led coalition in Aden city, southern Yemen.

A media source reported that STC forces, armed with batons, used military vehicles to close main and side streets in the Crater area, thwarting the protests, which demanded improved electricity services and an end to the economic downturn.

The source added that the protests were suppressed on the pretext of a lack of official permission, noting that the STC factions prevented the protesters from reaching the main gate of Ma’ashiq Palace via the immigration and passport control road.

He explained that a group of participants attempted to gather at the second gate from the Sira direction to organize the protest, but the STC’s emergency forces confronted them.

The source stressed that STC factions had threatened to arrest a number of activists, while protesters accused faction leaders of protecting what they described as “thieves and corrupt people” inside Ma’ashiq Palace.

It is worth noting that Aden suffers from frequent power outages of up to 16 hours a day, with only two hours of power supply. This comes amid soaring summer temperatures and the continued deterioration of the economic situation due to the collapse of the local currency.

YPA