Aden (South24)

---

Earlier today, Yemeni parties led by the Islamic Islah Party, Yemen's branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, announced the formation of the National Bloc of Political Parties and Factions in the capital Aden, under the auspices of the United States (US)-based National Democratic Institute.

However, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) has said it will not participate in the bloc.

The dismissed Yemeni Prime Minister and Chairman of the Shura Council, Ahmed bin Dagher, was named head of the new coalition, after 21 political parties, led by the Islamic Islah Party and the General People's Congress Party, formalized the bloc.

The Salafist Rashad Union, a Yemeni party led by Abdu al-Wahhab al-Humayqani, who was designated by the US in 2013 as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for providing support to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also joined the coalition—in an indication of the political leaning of the new coalition.

The final statement of the coalition, issued after their meeting held at the Coral Hotel in Aden on November 3 - 5, said that the new bloc "sets its priorities to restore the state, confront the [Houthi] rebellion and coup, and preserve the sovereignty of the [Yemeni] republic."

The statement also announced resolving the South Issue within the framework of a final political solution, combating corruption, and improving the economy and services.

Notably, the head of the bloc, Ahmed bin Dagher, was referred for investigation in October 2018 on corruption charges after being dismissed from the presidency of the Yemeni Council of Ministers by a decision of former President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.

On Monday (November 4), the Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced that it would not participate in the bloc.

The official spokesman of STC, Salem Thabet Al-Awlaqi, said: "The STC has followed the activity of the bloc that several parties are working on to announce it, and in this regard, the STC confirms that it will not participate in this bloc or its activities."

In a post on the X platform, the deputy head of the STC's foreign affairs department, Anees Alsharafi, said: "The Southern Transitional Council has provided its full support for every effort that contributes to the liberation of the north, and from this standpoint, it allowed the parties' meeting to be held in Aden."

But Alsharafi warned against "any attempt to divert the compass of the war towards Aden and the South, and to cross the red lines of the people of the South, their cause and their national project."

Notwithstanding the STC's opposition to this bloc, its forces provided security for the arrival of the political and diplomatic figures to the declaration venue in Aden.

Earlier this year, the STC Secretary-General, Fadl Al-Jaadi, had participated in two-day meetings on April 28-29 along with officials from other Yemeni parties for initial talks on formation of the coalition, under the auspices of the National Democratic Institute.

However, on May 1, the STC Presidency clarified that Al-Jaadi’s participation was by official assignment.

In addition to the STC, the Inclusive Hadramout Conference, which is the most important political faction in Hadramout, has also announced its complete refusal to participate in this bloc or sign it.

It published a statement on its official Facebook account in which it said that “participation in this bloc was not based on sound foundations.”

To express their anger, dozens of protesters gathered today in front of the Coral Hotel in Aden to reject the formation of the bloc. Some of the protesters demanded that the parties leave and head to Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis.

Observers wondered about the reasons for forming this bloc, the US goals behind it, and whether it was linked to US arrangements and plans regarding the Houthis or to put political pressure on them.