Aden, Yemen — Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired by Rashad al-Alimi, issued decrees on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, dismissing several senior civilian and military officials in the country's south, including the governor of Aden and commanders in eastern provinces. The moves come as pro-government forces solidify control over territories recently recaptured from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), signaling a determined effort to reassert central authority amid fracturing alliances.
According to the official Yemeni news agency SABA, Alimi's decrees targeted figures perceived as aligned with or tolerant of separatist influences. In the military sphere, Maj. Gen. Talib Saeed Abdullah Bargash was removed from his position as commander of the Second Military Region, which oversees parts of southern Yemen, and referred for investigation. Similarly, Maj. Gen. Mohsen Ali Nasser Marsa’a was dismissed as commander of the Al-Ghaydah Axis and the Military Police Brigade in Al-Mahra province, also facing referral for investigation.
A separate appointment promoted Salem Ali Saad Ahmed Makhbal Kada to brigadier general and named him the new commander of the Al-Ghaydah Axis. In a high-profile civilian change, Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, the governor of Aden—the temporary capital—was sacked and referred for investigation. He was replaced by Abdulrahman Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Yafei, a move aimed at installing a loyalist in the strategically vital port city.
These reshuffles follow the rapid recapture earlier this week of the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra by pro-government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. The two vast regions, encompassing nearly half of Yemen's landmass and rich in resources including oil fields in Hadhramaut, had been seized by STC fighters in December 2025. Government troops, including the Homeland Shield Forces and Giants Brigades, entered key cities like Mukalla in Hadhramaut and Al-Ghaydah in Al-Mahra with minimal resistance, as STC units withdrew or redeployed following Saudi-led airstrikes.
The PLC hailed the operations as a "record success," restoring state institutions without major clashes in most areas. Pro-government sources described the advances as orderly, though STC officials accused Saudi forces of aggression and civilian casualties in strikes targeting their positions. The recapture reversed STC gains that had expanded their control beyond traditional southern strongholds, threatening Saudi border security and coalition unity.
Tensions escalated last week when Saudi Arabia publicly accused the United Arab Emirates of directing or encouraging STC military operations along the kingdom's southern border in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. Abu Dhabi swiftly denied the claims, calling them unfounded and reaffirming support for Yemen's unity and stability. The accusations marked a rare public fracture between the two Gulf powers, longtime partners in the Saudi-led coalition intervening in Yemen since 2015 against the Iran-backed Houthis.
The STC, formed in 2017 under leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi, argues that successive Yemeni governments—often dominated by northern elites—have systematically marginalized southern regions politically, economically, and culturally since the 1990 unification of North and South Yemen. The council demands greater autonomy or full secession, recently issuing a "constitutional declaration" for a transition to a referendum on independence. Yemeni authorities and the PLC reject these claims outright, viewing them as threats to national sovereignty and emphasizing commitments to inclusive governance and unity.
On the same day as the reshuffles, the PLC escalated further by dismissing al-Zubaidi from the council itself, accusing him of evading summons to crisis talks in Riyadh and fleeing to an unknown location. Coalition sources labeled his actions as treasonous, amid reports of limited airstrikes on STC-linked sites. The STC condemned the moves as escalatory and undemocratic, warning of potential broader conflict.
These developments highlight the deepening Saudi-UAE proxy rift within the anti-Houthi bloc. Saudi Arabia has prioritized preserving Yemen's unity under the recognized government, while the UAE has invested heavily in southern forces like the STC for counterterrorism and regional influence. The 2019 Riyadh Agreement, meant to integrate STC units into state structures and share power, has repeatedly faltered, with implementation stalled over military and administrative integrations.
In Aden, pro-government forces—including the Giants Brigades—secured key sites like the international airport and imposed a nighttime curfew to maintain order. Similar measures followed evacuations of stranded foreign tourists from Socotra Island, underscoring the ripple effects of instability on civilian life and tourism.
The Houthis, controlling northern Yemen including Sanaa, have remained largely observant, though their continued Red Sea disruptions complicate the broader conflict. UN efforts for dialogue have intensified, with envoy Hans Grundberg urging restraint to avoid full coalition collapse.
Analysts describe the reshuffles as a purge to loyalize southern institutions ahead of potential negotiations or further assertiveness. While no widespread violence erupted immediately, risks remain high in a country enduring one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and facing acute food insecurity.
The PLC's actions reflect a Saudi-backed push to recentralize power, potentially sidelining UAE influence in the south. However, the STC's entrenched local support and armed capabilities suggest any resolution will require compromise. As Yemen navigates this internal coalition crisis, the path to lasting peace appears increasingly fraught.
