Aden, Yemen – The Southern Transitional Council (STC) issued an official statement on Thursday, January 29, 2026, condemning the closure of its General Assembly building in the Tawahi district of Aden. The statement also condemned the barring of its members, affiliates, and staff from entering the building by the Giants Brigades forces stationed there. The statement said that members and staff of the General Assembly were surprised this morning to find the building completely closed by the forces, considering the action a “direct targeting of a unifying national political institution.” Furthermore, the statement described the move as a blatant attempt to silence the voice of the southern people and undermine their institutions that represent their will.
The Council affirmed that the General Assembly, which includes the National Assembly and the Council of Advisors, represents the overarching political framework for all components of the southern spectrum. Furthermore, it conveys the concerns of citizens and defends their rights and legitimate aspirations. The Council stressed that any infringement upon it constitutes an attack on peaceful political activity and public freedoms. The Southern Transitional Council reiterated its categorical rejection of any attempts to reproduce practices of political totalitarianism or impose guardianship over national action. It also warned against a return to eras of repression, exclusion, and silencing of dissent, and affirmed that the South has made immense sacrifices for freedom and will not accept any retreat from it.
In its statement, the council strongly condemned this measure, describing it as “arbitrary and unjustified.” It also warned of the dangers of continuing such practices and their repercussions on stability in the capital, Aden, and the southern governorates. Furthermore, it rejected any unilateral actions reminiscent of the practices of previous regimes that used their security and military apparatus to suppress the will of the southern people. The statement also cautioned that these steps, given the current climate of public discontent, will further complicate the situation and exacerbate tensions, with dire consequences for all. In addition, the statement called for a safe environment for political and human rights activities and rejected the militarization or intimidation of civilian institutions by force.
The Council also called upon international and human rights organizations and those concerned with public freedoms to uphold their moral and legal responsibilities and to seriously consider what it described as the “dangerous trend” of suppressing the right of the southern people to exercise their legitimate political activity. The Southern Transitional Council further demanded that all relevant parties take immediate action to rescind the decision to close the General Assembly building, to reverse this measure immediately, and to refrain from repeating such decisions against any of the Council’s institutions and bodies, given the repercussions this has on social peace and public stability. The statement concluded by emphasizing that silence in the face of these transgressions is not an option. It clarified that defending the Council’s institutions and the southern people’s right to freedom and peaceful political action is a national duty from which there can be no retreat.
