Aden (South24)

Today, the newly formed Yemeni Presidential Council took the constitutional oath in the capital Aden.

The constitutional oath was taken before the Yemeni parliament, amid strict security measures implemented by the Southern security forces.

According to press sources, the security force charged with protecting the Presidential Council prevented journalists from covering the event or broadcasting it.

The oath ceremony was attended by a high-ranking diplomats from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, in addition to the UN Envoy to Yemen.

Pictures showed the arrival of some of the Presidency Council members, including Major General Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, the President of the Southern Transitional Council.

The event comes after the arrival of the Presidential Council, members of the parity government, the House of Representatives and the Shura Council to Aden from Riyadh during the past hours.

A local security official said for Xinhua the Aden-based STC, which is controlling the port city, deployed its well-trained security units across the city to ensure the safety of the ceremony. 

In the past days, nearly 165 Saudi-backed Yemeni political figures arrived in Aden from Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh to take their offices in Aden following years of exile.

The new presidential council chose Aden, which enjoys relative stability and prosperity in the war-torn country, as the main stronghold for running the country in this new significant transitional phase, the anonymous security official said.

The oath and its content sparked great controversy and disagreement since the formation of the Presidential Council was announced on April 7, as political and diplomatic sources reported to "South24."

Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, refrained from reading the term "unity" when taking the oath in Aden. He adheres to the demands for independence for South Yemen.

It should be noted that the Yemeni parliament has been considered expired since 2009. The parliament held its first session in Aden, on Monday, with the presence of a portion of its members.

South24 Center for News and Studies + Xinhua

Photo: Scenes of the oath ceremony held in Aden. 19 April 2022 (Saba).