Aden (South24 Center)

Amid the deterioration of economic conditions and poor public services, the Southern capital city of Aden is witnessing intensified preparations for holding widespread popular protests on Tuesday, January 14. This comes in response to calls by trade unions and Southern civil forces. 

These moves follow a trade union statement on January 11, that included calls for peaceful gathering in the Oroud Square in Khormaksar to denounce the lack of reforms, the ongoing failure to pay salaries, and the collapse of basic services. 

The statement said the economic crisis has become “unbearable” and accused traditional leaders of being responsible for the continuous failure in managing the state’s resources for decades. The statement stressed that the protests were to demand the legitimate rights of citizens and denounced the “systemic starvation” that has exacerbated the suffering of the people.

The statement comes amid the deterioration in the value of the local currency as the exchange rate of a US dollar has reached 2,160 Yemeni riyals, the lowest since the unity of North and South Yemen in 1990. Furthermore, the power outages in Aden and the neighbouring governorates have exceeded 20 hours per day.

In a related context, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) held an urgent meeting on Sunday, January 12, chaired by its Acting President Ali Abdullah Al-Kathiri to discuss the repercussions of the economic situation and support the popular moves.

The meeting saw the participation of the STC’s ministerial bloc in the Yemeni government along with its political team. They stressed on the STC’s support for the legal demands expressed by trade unions and other Southern civil forces, as well as sticking to the peaceful nature of the protests.

The STC called on the government and the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) to shoulder their responsibilities toward the citizens and find effective solutions to the economic crisis.

Moreover, the STC warned that the continuous political deadlock may lead to the escalation of popular anger, not only in Aden but in other areas of South Yemen.

The meeting discussed the conditions in Hadramout, which has witnessed popular ire amid calls for the enablement of its people to manage their resources fairly.

The Southern Journalists and Media Syndicate issued a statement calling on its members to participate in the protests and also cover the events to convey a clear image about the suffering of people in Aden and the South in general.

It stressed on the importance of delivering messages related to human rights to the international community and highlighted the tough livelihood conditions facing these areas.

These developments come at a time when Aden and South Yemen’s governorates are witnessing an almost complete paralysis in public services amid the lack of any clear government plans to solve the crisis.