Beleaguered President renames Aden as Yemen’s ‘new capital’

Beleaguered President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled to Aden after escaping from Shiite militia controlling Sanaa, considers the southern port city to be Yemen’s capital, an aide said. But tensions were running high in Aden, as special forces suspected of links to the militia known as Huthis readied defences against an anticipated assault by Hadi loyalists. Several Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, have already moved their embassies to Aden after an exodus of foreign diplomats from Sanaa in February over security concerns. But the United States, the first to close its mission in Sanaa, has said it will not do so, although it continues to back Hadi.

Aden became the capital of Yemen as soon as the Huthis occupied Sanaa.

A presidential aide, quoting Yemen President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi

Hadi also accused ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Huthis of links with Iran, and spoke of his escape from Sanaa and Huthi demands to integrate thousands of their militants into the army and police and secure top government posts. His remarks about Aden reflect his determination to hold out against Huthi efforts to extend their influence, but are purely symbolic because moving the capital requires a change to the constitution. The Gulf Cooperation Council, which continues to support Hadi, is ruled by Sunni Muslim regimes deeply suspicious of the Huthis, fearing they will take Yemen into Shiite Iran’s orbit.

Yemen Middle East