UAE rebels insist on coup in Aden, Yemen faces unknown future
The rebels of the United Arab Emirates have insisted on sticking to their coup against the legitimate government in the interim Yemeni capital of Aden, while Yemen is heading to an unknown future.
The UAE’s separatist allies in the Southern Transitional Council have rejected calls to hand over government sites and institutions it has seized in Aden, including torpedoing Saudi Arabia’s claims to send a takeover committee, as well as promising an escalation in the south and east of Yemen.
The Council stressed that the option of separation, to the extent of what he called “the restoration of the independent federal state of the south,” is an irreversible option. In a direct reference to its rejection of the return of legitimacy, or the handover of the sites and camps that have been seized. the Council said that “one of the most important general directives for the next stage to manage the repercussions of the events of Aden and its consequences in order to strengthen the cohesion of the southern social fabric, and restore the city of Aden.”
The statement included directive texts, closer to being a “government program,” and an official announcement that it is the decision-maker and the supreme authority in the southern governorates of Yemen, and said: “We direct the local authorities in the capital Aden and all governorates of the south to assume their service and civil responsibilities, in the normalization of the situation, and meet the needs and requirements of the citizen.”
The Council added: “We direct the security services and military units to assume their national responsibilities in securing and protecting public and private property, and maintaining security and stability,” and talked about his plan in the “fight against terrorism,” saying that “our battle with terrorism is an open battle, which requires the support of the regional and international community of our forces.”
The statement issued by Abu Dhabi’s allies not only torpedoed efforts to hand over Aden but also to declare that he would go to Wadi Hadramout, which remains under the loyalty of the Yemeni army.
The statement issued by the transitional Council, which carries a whole message that the situation in the south will not return back, hours after the Saudi media announced the arrival of a Saudi-Emirati committee to Aden, to take over the government and military headquarters seized.
It is unclear whether the statement issued by the UAE’s allies is part of an exchange of roles with Saudi Arabia, or whether it reflects a real crisis between the two allies.
Observers consider that what happened in Aden represents expected developments that were not surprising but timed. The UAE has been keen to form and arm forces outside the framework of the legitimacy of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. This is expected to be repeated in cities other than Aden, including Hadramout, Shabwa, and Taiz.
Many believe that Britain has the vision for a solution that is formulated and imposed on all Yemenis north and south, including the Abu Dhabi-based Transitional Council at will, as forces affiliated with General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar will be eliminated or dissolved in formations supported by the UAE and the Kingdom, especially the existing in the valley of Hadramout and in the city of Taiz. The vice president is also expected to be replaced after being weakened militarily. He is seen as the Muslim Brotherhood’s arm in Yemen.
The concern of the Yemeni citizen is the damage done to citizens in these governorates, as happened in Aden from racist practices against vendors, traders, and employees from other governorates such as Taiz.
Perhaps today, Yemen is being considered as two major regions, perhaps several states in each region, perhaps the least damaging solution to the current political system.
