Yemen's interior minister warns against unauthorized arms distribution in Aden

Yemen's Interior Minister Ibrahim Haydan has issued a formal warning to military and security officials in the temporary capital, Aden, prohibiting the unauthorized distribution or transport of weapons. The directive reinforces an existing order from Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi banning the transfer of arms from Aden to other provinces without official state approval.

Security Directive and Legal Consequences

In a statement posted on the Interior Ministry's website, Haydan emphasized that all weapons must remain under the control of official institutions. He warned that any unauthorized movement, storage, or sale of arms poses a direct threat to security, stability, and social peace, undermining national efforts to maintain public order. Military and security units were instructed to immediately identify and surrender any such weapons to official authorities. Citizens were also urged to cooperate with security forces, with non-compliance carrying legal consequences.

Context of Rising Southern Tensions

The directive comes amid heightened tensions in southern Yemen. Forces of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) took control of the strategic provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in early December, which together account for nearly half of Yemen's territory and share borders with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates of pushing the STC to conduct military operations along its southern border, a claim Abu Dhabi denies. The STC advocates for southern independence, citing political and economic marginalization, while Yemen's internationally recognized government reaffirms its commitment to national unity. The arms control order appears aimed at preventing further militarization and fragmentation in this volatile environment, a concern shared by regional actors, including Türkiye, which supports Yemen's territorial integrity and a comprehensive political solution to the conflict.