The Southern National Coalition (SNC) on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, demanded an end to abuses committed by armed groups operating outside the law targeting high-ranking military officials and prominent social figures from Abyan Governorate (southern Yemen).

In a statement received by Barran Press, the SNC called on the Presidential Leadership Council and the internationally recognized Yemeni government to stop these abuses. This follows the abduction of a Yemeni army officer from Abyan Governorate, Major Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani, by armed men in Aden, the declared interim capital of the country.

The SNC expressed its deep concern over the developments in the Al-Ja'adani abduction case, condemning the detention, which it described as illegal and outside the constitutional framework.

The coalition held the local authorities, security, and military agencies in Aden fully responsible for the safety of the abducted officer.

Meanwhile, the SNC commended the efforts of the local authorities and security and military leaders in Abyan Governorate, who have been actively engaging with the relevant authorities in Aden to uncover Al-Ja'adani's fate. They praised their efforts to prevent escalation and calm the Abyan tribes during the past period.

The SNC expressed regret that these efforts had not yielded tangible results despite orders from Presidential Leadership Council member Aidrous Al-Zubaidi to swiftly apprehend those involved in the crime. The coalition pointed to alleged procrastination by the relevant security agencies in Aden.

In its statement, the SNC warned of a worsening situation and a potential loss of control in Abyan Governorate due to the tension among the tribes, the failure of local authorities' efforts, and the procrastination of security agencies in Aden in fulfilling their duty, pursuing the perpetrators, and releasing Al-Ja'adani.

The SNC urged the people of Abyan to unite and stand together against attempts to weaken the governorate and harm its people, emphasizing that "Abyan is the backbone of the southern governorates; there is no south without it. It is also the beating heart of Yemen; there can be no national political path without a fair partnership that embraces its cadres."

The SNC demanded that the security and military agencies in Aden swiftly release Al-Ja'adani, ensuring his safe return to his family, pursue the perpetrators, bring them to justice, and deliver a deterrent and fair punishment to serve as a lesson for others.

On Tuesday, July 2, military, security, and local authorities in Abyan Governorate stated they would stand with the governorate's tribes in their escalating steps to demand the release of Major Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani, who has been missing in Aden since June 12.

The Abyan Governorate leadership, including local authorities, security officials, the Abyan Security Belt, and the Abyan Military Axis, issued a joint statement declaring that they would not allow any attacks on the Abyan tribes under any pretext.

In the statement published by the governorate's security forces, Abyan's military, security, and local authorities accused the security agencies in Aden of procrastinating in implementing what they described as "high-level orders" to apprehend those accused of abducting Major Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani.

They stated that they would not be held responsible for any incidents starting from the time of the statement's release, holding those who procrastinate in implementing the directives of the highest level accountable.

On June 28, Abyan tribes held a consultative meeting in Aden to discuss the disappearance of their son, Major Ali Ashal Al-Ja'adani, in Aden on June 12.

The tribes threatened to escalate if Al-Ja'adani was not released safe and sound, stating that the right to respond is guaranteed and options are open.

They called on the Presidential Leadership Council, the unity government, the Southern Transitional Council, and the Arab coalition leadership to intervene urgently to reveal the location of Major Ali Abdullah Ashal Al-Ja'adani's abduction and secure his release.

The tribes claim that Al-Ja'adani was abducted in Aden on June 12 and his fate remains unknown, while security agencies have not taken action to determine his whereabouts.