General strike shuts down Crater markets in Aden

ADEN, Nov. 25 (YPA) – Merchants in the Crater district of Aden staged a general strike on Tuesday to protest what they described as exorbitant “duty fees” imposed on them by leaders of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council.

The merchants closed their shops as part of a strike that encompassed all commercial activities, considering the imposed levies an additional burden on their already difficult economic situation, given the deteriorating living conditions in the city, which has been under the control of the coalition since the beginning of the year 2016.

The protesting merchants expressed their strong dissatisfaction with the illegal measures, asserting that they are imposed by the authorities loyal to the Transitional Council in Crater, exacerbating their suffering and undermining their efforts to restore economic activity to normal.

The strike comes amidst a wave of widespread anger among merchants who indicated that these practices do not serve economic reforms, but rather primarily burden citizens who are already suffering from poor living conditions.