Aden (South24 Center)

Wounded fighters from the 2015 war, along with families of those killed, escalated their protests in the capital, Aden, on Sunday (April 26) by staging an open sit-in outside the gates of Al-Maashiq Palace, the seat of the Yemeni government, amid tight security measures.

A South24 correspondent reported that security forces intensified their deployment along roads leading to the presidential palace in an attempt to restrict the movement of protesters.

#BREAKING

Security tightening in #Aden to prevent the 2015 war wounded from reaching the Maashiq Palace gate to protest and demand their rights #south24 pic.twitter.com/iCd9JVZnsE

— South24 | English (@South24E) April 26, 2026

The protest committee affirmed that the escalation would continue, vowing not to back down until their legal demands are met.

In a statement, the committee accused senior authorities of adopting a “policy of procrastination and delay,” stressing that the wounded and the families of the fallen “gave the most precious sacrifices for the sake of the homeland,” and that continued neglect of their rights is no longer acceptable.

The committee called for the implementation of “presidential promises,” including promotions, payment of financial entitlements, and ensuring equality in grants and salaries. It also demanded the allocation of Hajj and Umrah quotas for the families of the fallen, as well as the provision of medical treatment abroad for critical cases.

The group also rejected what it described as the “unilateral management of the wounded file,” calling for the involvement of competent official bodies. It noted that its demands remain unresolved despite months having passed since previous meetings with state leadership without tangible results.

The committee stressed that the sit-in outside Al-Maashiq Palace would remain open, affirming that it “will not budge from its position” until official decisions are issued and the demands are fully implemented.

Earlier, the organizing committee had called on the wounded, families of the fallen, human rights organizations, and media professionals to participate in the protest to press for their rights.

This issue has witnessed a prolonged series of protests and official promises over the past years. In November 2025, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council met with representatives of the wounded and families of the fallen and pledged to meet their demands within 20 days — a commitment that has yet to be fulfilled.

On April 6, the Council of Ministers, headed by Shaya Al-Zindani, approved a project to establish the “General Authority for Wounded Affairs.” The move is seen as a delayed attempt to address the issue after years of stagnation.

The year 2015 witnessed intense battles between the Southern Resistance on one side and Houthi-Saleh forces on the other, which ended with the liberation of Aden and neighboring southern governorates, leaving thousands of fighters killed and wounded.