Aden – The Yemeni Minister of Youth and Sports, Naif al-Bakri, has stated that recent events in the southern governorates, primarily Aden and Hadramout, represent the implementation of state sovereignty and the rule of law. He emphasized that these developments should not be viewed as a victory of one faction over another.
In an interview, Minister al-Bakri, who also serves as a member of the Consultation and Reconciliation Body, explained that the situation in Aden and Hadramout reflects the extension of state influence and the return of state institutions to functionality. He further noted that stability in the south is reassuring for the region and the world.
Al-Bakri affirmed that all actions taken are within the framework of implementing the rule of law and integrating military and security formations into the established army and security institutions. This follows the announcement by Presidential Leadership Council Head Rashad al-Alimi of the formation of a Supreme Military Committee, under the command of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy forces, to oversee the leadership of various military formations.
The Minister stated that state institutions in Hadramout have been operational for several days under the leadership of the local authority, and a similar return to functionality has occurred in Aden. This is reportedly in line with the directives of al-Alimi and with the support of the Saudi-led coalition.
The southern and eastern governorates of Yemen have recently witnessed significant shifts, with government forces gaining control over most of the governorates previously held by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Regarding the formations previously associated with the ‘STC,’ al-Bakri stated that al-Alimi has been clear about integrating all military and security formations into state institutions. He also suggested that the ‘STC’s’ announcement of its dissolution in Riyadh confirms that there are no longer any military formations operating outside the framework of the state.
According to the Yemeni Minister, the government and local authorities support this direction, and a newly formed Supreme Military Committee will be responsible for reorganizing the status of various military formations, including the Security Belt forces, the Al-Sa’iqa forces, and the Shabwa and Hadramout Elite Forces, alongside other formations in several governorates.
The Southern Transitional Council announced its dissolution following a failed attempt in December to seize control of governorates in the east and south of the country, as part of its secessionist agenda.
