ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni government forces reinforced security across the southern port city of Aden on Monday following deadly clashes near the presidential palace, as the newly formed cabinet prepared to resume operations within the war-torn Arab nation.
The clashes were triggered on Thursday, just days after the cabinet arrived from Saudi Arabia, when hundreds of demonstrators, many aligned with pro-secession southern groups, rallied outside al-Ma'ashiq Presidential Palace, the seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government.
As the anti-government demonstrators attempted to advance toward the main entrance of the palace, security forces moved to block them, and the standoff quickly escalated into confrontations.
A medical official told Xinhua that at least 23 people were injured and one person died upon arrival at the hospital. "Most of the injuries were caused by live ammunition," the official said, without providing further details.
In the aftermath of the clashes, the government ordered the deployment of additional troops across Aden and along major roads leading to key state institutions.
Residents said that over the past few hours, more armored vehicles and military units, backed by Saudi Arabia, had arrived from outside the city and taken up positions around the presidential palace, setting up checkpoints and tightening security measures.
An official of Aden's security committee told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the security forces had begun identifying and pursuing individuals accused of attacking state institutions and security personnel, emphasizing that "state institutions must be protected."
He said that several activists accused of inciting chaos had been arrested in Aden and the neighboring southern province of Lahj, adding that further suspects were still being tracked down.
He also confirmed that, under directives from the Yemeni government, security forces shut down two offices affiliated with the STC in Aden as part of the security measures.
The demonstrations were organized by southern separatist forces, notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a pro-secession movement that calls for self-determination in southern Yemen.
According to the organizers, the protests came amid rising tensions over the government's return to Aden and lingering disputes over power-sharing and political representation in the south.
On Sunday, the country's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) renewed its full support for the government's position, stressing that disruption of public institutions would not be tolerated.
However, the STC denounced what it described as "a wave of arrests targeting young people and other residents" who, it said, were peacefully expressing their political views and aspirations. The pro-secession council warned that the measures could lead to further consequences if the government crackdown continues.
Amr Al-Bidh, an STC official in charge of foreign affairs, said on the social media platform X that the recent measures signal a troubling start for the Yemeni government in Aden.
He accused authorities of "killing civilians" and "kidnapping activists," as well as shutting down the council's offices in Aden. He described the measures as "a recipe for escalation" and warned they would lead to "greater instability."
Political tensions have further intensified since January, when the Saudi-backed PLC revoked the membership of the STC president backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing him of "high treason." The dismissal decision widened fractures within the anti-Houthi military coalition and drew attention to differing approaches among regional partners involved in Yemen.
While large-scale front-line fighting has subsided in parts of the war-ravaged Arab country, political rivalries and economic hardship continue to undermine stability, according to local observers.
Aden has functioned as Yemen's temporary capital since 2015, after Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa and a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the government. The city holds strategic and symbolic importance as a political and economic hub in southern Yemen.
For residents in Aden, the reinforced security presence is a reminder of how quickly political rivalries can disrupt daily life in a city already burdened by years of conflict and economic hardship. Many fear that continued tensions could further strain basic services, livelihoods and the fragile sense of stability they depend on.
The STC, formed in 2017, advocates self-determination and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Despite joining the Saudi-led coalition and integrating into the Presidential Leadership Council in 2022, the group continues to push for southern sovereignty, leading to recurring disputes over power-sharing and resource control.
North and South Yemen were unified in 1990 to form the Republic of Yemen, bringing together two previously separate states under a single national government. ■
