Prominent Yemeni politician Haidar Abu Bakr Al-Attas, the first Prime Minister of the Yemeni unity government, arrived in Aden on Tuesday, October 15, marking his first return to the city in nearly three decades. Al-Attas left Yemen following the civil war in 1994 and has since lived abroad.

According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, Al-Attas returned alongside Rashad Al-Alimi, the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, and other officials. His arrival has sparked numerous questions regarding its implications, particularly given the volatile conditions currently facing the city and the country at large.

Haidar Al-Attas was the first Prime Minister after the unification of North and South Yemen on May 22, 1990. He fled the country after the summer war of 1994 when he was implicated in attempts to secede following the unification. He also served as the last president of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen from 1986 to 1990.

Al-Attas made a political comeback in August 2015 when former President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi appointed him as an advisor, alongside Dr. Ahmed Obaid Bin Daghr. He has since participated in various conferences, including the 30th Arab Summit in Tunisia in March 2019.

In June 2023, Al-Attas returned to Yemen for the first time, visiting Hadramout with President Al-Alimi before making his way to Aden this time.

Strengthening the Internal Front

Regarding the significance of Al-Attas's return, journalist and researcher Fuad Mus’ed noted that it aligns with the efforts of the Presidential Leadership Council to strengthen the internal front and address critical challenges, particularly the deteriorating economic and living conditions.

Mus’ed remarked that Al-Attas is a respected figure among political forces due to his previous roles, including his leadership in the People's Assembly in southern Yemen and as Prime Minister after unification. He believes that Al-Attas's extensive political and administrative experience could provide valuable contributions to the government and the current leadership council.

Power Struggles

Journalist and writer Abdul-Raqeeb Al-Hadayani noted that Al-Attas's return coincides with increased activity from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which recently held a public event in Hadramout. Al-Hadayani suggested that this timing reflects Saudi Arabia's efforts to manage events in the southern provinces, particularly in Hadramout, which borders Saudi Arabia—a situation that Riyadh views with great sensitivity.

In a statement to "Barran Press," he remarked, "There is no doubt among observers of Yemen's situation that a power struggle exists between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, with each side employing its tools to diminish the other's influence."

He expressed concern that the outcome of this rivalry negatively impacts the stability of these provinces and exacerbates the hardships faced by their residents. "Unfortunately, we in Yemen are still paying the price for regional ambitions and international schemes, with the country’s strategic location making it a focal point of this conflict. There are no clear indications of sincere intentions from the international community or its regional agents to establish a secure path or serious solution that could extricate Yemen from the ongoing chaos, now in its tenth year," he added.

Haidar Al-Attas, born in Hadramout in 1939, holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Cairo University. He was sentenced to death in absentia in 1998 but received a general amnesty on May 20, 2003, which included all leaders of the separatist movement at the time. Despite this, he did not return to Yemen to engage in political activities until now.