Saudi military envoy orders arrest of prominent Radfan figure in Aden
ADEN, April 14 (YPA) – Saudi military representative in the city of Aden, Falah Al-Shahrani, has issued orders to arrest Waddah Nasr Al-Halimi, the acting secretary-general of the presidency of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC), in what is being described as a significant escalation targeting southern leadership figures, sources familiar with the matter said.
Media platforms affiliated with the STC reported that the order was issued to local authorities following a tense meeting in the city, amid a series of measures aimed at increasing pressure on the STC, which Saudi Arabia reportedly dissolved in January.
According to these sources, the order to detain Waddah Nasr Al-Halimi followed unsuccessful attempts to convince him to step back from his support for the STC and the southern cause. Analysts warn that this move could further destabilize the situation in Aden and across other southern governorates.
The reported move has sparked widespread anger among tribes in Radfan, Al-Halimi’s home region, with tribal figures warning of potential escalation on the ground in Aden in response to what they described as “systematic targeting and humiliation.”
The escalation follows recent public unrest in the Al-Buraiqeh area earlier this month, where dozens of protesters reportedly reopened STC offices that had previously been shut down.
Pro-STC activists have accused the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, along with figures from the Islah Party, of being behind what they described as arbitrary Saudi measures.
Activists further alleged the existence of an alliance seeking to leverage Saudi influence to eliminate the STC’s presence from the southern political landscape and impose a new political reality, raising concerns about potential confrontations with forces aligned with Riyadh.
These developments come as Saudi authorities continue to hold STC-affiliated leaders in Riyadh since early January under the banner of “intra-southern dialogue,” while reportedly restructuring formerly STC-aligned factions and appointing leadership figures considered more closely aligned with Saudi interests.
@E.Y.M