Second story from Yemen: an exclusive look at the recent fighting in Aden, which has definitively turned the conflict into 3 wars in 1 - government vs Houthis, both parties vs Qaida and ISISY and now government vs the separatist STC in Yemen’s south. theguardian.com/world/2019/oct…
We found a complicated tangle of separatist militias and politicians trying to consolidate control in a situ where alliances that still exist on paper do not mean anything in reality. Aden is the internationally recognized capital but the govt no longer has a presence there.
President Hadi and Islah’s seat of power is in the process of moving to the oil and gas rich central city of Marib, giving Yemen 3 competing capitals. 4, if you count the remnants of Saleh’s brothers’ support in Hodeidah.
There’s been intense deescalation talks in Jeddah in the last few weeks but there are many delicate issues yet to be sorted out - eg central bank reserves and civil servants salaries in Aden (they haven’t been paid in a month) and continuing access to Aden’s airport for Hadi.
There’s been much talk of the UAE’s “withdrawal” from Yemen this summer but it is abundantly clear they retain just as much sway on the ground via the STC and groups such as the Security Belt. The withdrawal was also far from the only trigger for the new Aden fighting.
Govt is v unlikely to try enter Aden again militarily if power sharing deal can’t be worked out. Cooperation continues on fronts against the Houthis.
If STC tries to shore up its position across the south, next flashpoint will be Abyan (between Aden and govt-loyal Shabwa).
If STC tries to shore up its position across the south, next flashpoint will be Abyan (between Aden and govt-loyal Shabwa).
Is yemen the most complicated country in the world? Strong contender. theguardian.com/world/2019/oct…
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