Aden, Yemen – The parade ground in Khor Maksar district in the capital Aden witnessed an unprecedented popular escalation today, Friday, as the open sit-in entered its twenty-fifth consecutive day.
Huge crowds and delegations from various southern governorates, including Al-Dhali’, Yafa’, Lahj, Shabwa and Abyan,
flocked to the scene to reinforce the revolutionary momentum rejecting what they described as a “war of extermination.”
Angry chants against the Seiyun raids
The scene turned into a volcano of anger following news of Saudi airstrikes
that targeted Seiyun airport and southern military sites this morning.
The protesters raised banners denouncing the “northern aggression” and the “brutal war”.
Which is being waged by northern forces backed by Riyadh
against southern forces and sovereign areas in Hadhramaut.
Demands for decisive action
The protesters’ demands today focused on key points, namely:
Declaration of State: The immediate and unconditional demand for
the declaration of the establishment of a fully sovereign South Arabian state.
Rejecting guardianship: Condemning the ongoing war on the southern borders
and rejecting the policy of “forced dictates”.
Renewal of mandate: Declaration of full confidence in President Aidarus al-Zubaidi
and the leadership of the Transitional Council,
This is to take the “historic steps” that will end the association with the North.
A military context raises the bar for demands
Observers believe that today’s airstrikes on Seiyun and Al-Khasha’a have constituted
a crucial turning point in the collective consciousness of the South.
The protesters describe it as a “brutal attack” targeting the southern presence.
This sense of threat has led to escalating separatist demands to their maximum extent.
With explicit calls for the political leadership to sever all ties of partnership in response to this military escalation.
Aden is experiencing a state of high anticipation tonight, as the protesters link
their continued presence in the squares to the issuance of the “historic statement”.
Which ends the state of political uncertainty and declares the restoration of the state.
