Yemen's presidential council vows probe into deadly Aden unrest

Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has committed to launching a full investigation into recent violent clashes in the interim capital, Aden, promising accountability for those involved in attacks on state institutions. The council convened Sunday in the Saudi capital Riyadh with Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani participating via video conference, Yemen's official Saba news agency reported.

Details of the Unrest

The meeting reviewed "developments in Aden in light of the recent events the city witnessed, including attempts to attack state institutions, disrupt their work, and use the street as a tool of pressure to achieve illegitimate political objectives." On Friday, Aden's security committee reported that armed groups had gathered near the Maasheq Presidential Palace and attempted to storm it while confronting security forces. The presidential council reported casualties from the unrest, which occurred just one day after the newly formed government convened its first meeting in Aden.

Official Response

The council denounced the violence as an attempt to target state institutions and stressed its commitment to "responding firmly to any attempt to disrupt its national institutions." It pledged to "open a comprehensive investigation into these events and hold accountable anyone proven to be involved in inciting or financing them." The council warned against "squandering this historic opportunity under the pressure of slogans or narrow calculations," calling for protection of gains achieved at security, service, and economic levels.

Saudi Role and Southern Issue

The council expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's hosting of a conference on Yemen's south, describing it as "an unprecedented level in addressing the southern issue, as a just cause with historical and social dimensions that requires a fair solution within the framework of the state and its guaranteeing references." The formation of Prime Minister Zindani's government on February 6 followed weeks of Riyadh consultations aimed at easing tensions between the internationally recognized government and the Southern Transitional Council, reaching a consensual framework for the next phase of Yemen's troubled political transition.