Aden (South24 Center)

Six governorates across South Yemen witnessed simultaneous protests on Thursday, July 16, against what participants described as “Saudi guardianship” and deteriorating public services and living conditions. Demonstrators also rejected the inclusion of individuals accused or convicted of terrorism and assassination-related crimes in a prisoner exchange deal between the Yemeni government and the Houthis.

The protests took place in Aden, AlDhalea, Abyan, Hadramout, Al-Mahra, and Socotra as part of a peaceful escalation campaign called for by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), amid mounting tensions between the council, government institutions, and regional parties.

#BREAKING

South24 Coverage: Crowds gathering in Dhalea heading toward the local authority building as part of the popular escalation program in the governorate #south24 pic.twitter.com/JbNk5pFvF8

— South24 | English (@South24E) July 16, 2026

Protesters raised political, rights-based, and service-related demands, including addressing electricity and fuel shortages and rising prices, releasing detained activists, and rejecting any prisoner exchange arrangements that bypass the judiciary or disregard the rights of victims.

In AlDhalea, demonstrators gathered outside the local authority headquarters, demanding the release of detainees, foremost among them Southern activist Mueen Al-Miqrahi.

Photos and video footage obtained by South24 Center showed processions arriving from several districts to join the protest.

In Aden, protesters gathered outside the governorate building in Al-Mualla district and denounced what they described as a “war on services” and “policies of starvation and collective punishment.” Footage documented by South24 Center showed a heavy security deployment around the building during the protest.

Participants also rejected the inclusion of individuals accused or convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the exchange deal and demanded improved services and an end to the deterioration in living conditions.

In Al-Mukalla, Hadramout governorate, protesters denounced worsening electricity supplies, fuel shortages, and rising prices, and called for the governorate’s revenues to be directed toward serving its residents.

#BREAKING

South24 Coverage: Al-Mukalla protest condemns the deterioration of services and high prices, demanding urgent solutions for electricity and fuel, and directing Hadramout's revenues to serve its people#south24 pic.twitter.com/G9LGp93rP8

— South24 | English (@South24E) July 16, 2026

Participants said they would continue their peaceful escalation against what they described as policies of starvation and the plundering of Hadramout’s wealth. They also rejected the release of terrorism suspects under the prisoner exchange deal.

#WADI_HADRAMOUT

A protest in Houra and Wadi Al-Ain district demands "enabling the people of the WADI to manage their own affairs and the withdrawal of Yemeni emergency forces"#south24 pic.twitter.com/d6C9xkiTFj

— South24 | English (@South24E) July 16, 2026

Al-Mahra witnessed a similar protest against deteriorating services and living conditions. Participants warned against the deployment of military forces from outside the governorate and called for respect for its local character and improved living standards for its residents.

Protests were also held in Abyan and Socotra as part of the escalation campaign, with participants demanding improved services and rejecting foreign guardianship.

#ABYAN

As part of the popular escalation program, Zinjibar witnessed a protest this morning "rejecting the prisoner exchange deal" #south24 pic.twitter.com/lDz4knCGQR

— South24 | English (@South24E) July 16, 2026

The demonstrations followed protests in several Southern governorates in recent days over reports that individuals accused or convicted of terrorism and assassination-related crimes could be included in a prisoner exchange agreement between the government and the Houthis.

Families of victims of terrorist attacks and Southern tribal groups had warned against using the exchange process to release individuals accused or convicted of involvement in violence without judicial guarantees or consideration for the rights of victims and their families.

The protests coincide with growing public anger over deteriorating electricity supplies, fuel shortages, and rising prices—issues that have become central to popular demonstrations across several Southern governorates in recent weeks.

#AL_MUKALLA

Hadrami women chant anti-Saudi slogans during the protest "rejecting guardianship" in Al-Mukalla this morning #south24 pic.twitter.com/CZ9uqwsh0E

— South24 | English (@South24E) July 16, 2026

The STC had called for peaceful escalation across South Yemen against what it described as “guardianship,” amid growing disputes with the Yemeni government and Riyadh that have intensified since the beginning of this year.