“Al-Amaliqa” forces close Southern Transitional Council’s HQ in Aden on Saudi directives

ADEN, Jan. 29 (YPA) – Military units from the “Al-Amaliqa” Brigades surrounded and shut down the headquarters of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) National Assembly in the Tawahi district of Aden on Thursday.

The move, reportedly executed under direct directives, comes amid escalating political and security friction in the temporary capital.

Local sources reported that armed units, aligned with Presidential Leadership Council member Abdulrahman al-Mahrami, established a strict security cordon around the building, preventing employees from entering and halting all institutional activities. This facility was considered the last primary hub for the STC’s official operations following recent shifts in the council’s administrative status.

The STC’s Foreign Affairs Department issued a sharp rebuke, describing the closure as a “blatant attempt to silence political voices” and a direct assault on national institutions. The statement emphasized a categorical rejection of “political tutelage” or the use of military force to suppress political activity.

This development occurs as Saudi Arabia leads efforts to restructure the political landscape in southern Yemen. Observers note that the move coincides with the summoning of several southern leaders to Riyadh for ongoing “dialogue” sessions. While some view these measures as a necessary step to stabilize the city and unify authority, others see them as a systematic dismantling of the STC’s influence in its traditional stronghold.

YPA