Clashes Erupt between Transitional Council Factions in Aden

Members of Yemen's southern separatist leaders in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)
Members of Yemen's southern separatist leaders in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)
TT
20

Clashes Erupt between Transitional Council Factions in Aden

Members of Yemen's southern separatist leaders in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)
Members of Yemen's southern separatist leaders in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)

Violent clashes erupted between factions of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), killing five and injuring 11 others in Crater district in Aden.

Local authorities described the events as confrontations to eliminate "terrorist groups."0

Witnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that houses, shops, and cars were damaged during the clashes.

Informed sources said that the clashes were between forces affiliated with the security forces in Aden backed by the "storm forces" against troops affiliated with Imam al-Nubi and all forces affiliated with the Transitional Council.

Sources revealed that the clashes erupted as gunmen affiliated with Nubi stormed the Crater Police Station to release one of their detained members. They also kidnapped the deputy head of the investigation department Lieutenant Awad al-Sayed to an unknown destination.

The police department issued a statement, accusing individuals affiliated with al-Nubi of closing all entrances and exits of Crater Police station with armored vehicles.

Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik returned to the temporary capital of Aden last week, where he resides with several ministers in the presidential palace in Crater.

The Security Committee in Aden, headed by Governor Ahmed Lamlas, issued a statement asking residents of Crater to remain in their homes.

The statement said Aden's "security and counter-terrorism forces are clearing the city from some terrorist groups and outlaws."

The Security Committee in Aden will not tolerate any party that tries to harm the city's security and its citizens, the statement said.

It also accused those groups of seeking to destabilize the country's security and stability, using heavy and medium weapons.

The statement said that the committee asserted its aim to protect private and public properties that have been subject to looting during the past days at the hands of these groups bringing chaos and sabotage into the city.

Governor Lammas said in statements carried by al-Ghad Channel that the security committee will maintain the security and stability of citizens, pointing out that "outlawed armed groups" are dealt with firmly to ensure the safety of the citizens.

He asserted that the area would be completely secured, noting that there is no need to worry.

"We hope the people of Aden will be of assistance and support to the security forces."

Observers believe that stability will not be achieved in the city until the implementation of security and military articles of the Riyadh Agreement.



Islamist Leader in Sudan’s Former Ruling Party Eyes Power After War

Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
TT
20

Islamist Leader in Sudan’s Former Ruling Party Eyes Power After War

Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)

A senior figure in Sudan’s dissolved ruling party has revealed that the country’s Islamist movement is preparing for a return to power once the ongoing conflict ends, even if it means supporting prolonged military rule in the interim.

The remarks, made by Ahmed Haroun, former head of the National Congress Party and one of four Sudanese figures wanted by the International Criminal Court, reflect growing confidence among Islamists following their military involvement in the war.

The war, now in its third year, pits Sudan’s army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and has triggered massive displacement, famine, and ethnic violence. Despite the RSF holding strategic ground in Darfur and parts of southern Sudan, the army has recently gained momentum on multiple fronts.

Islamist factions claim credit for assisting in these advances, contributing fighters and logistical support.

According to military and government sources, the Islamist movement has been increasingly visible on the battlefield.

These networks, dismantled following the 2019 uprising that ousted Omar al-Bashir, have resurfaced amid the chaos of war.

A leaked party document reviewed by Reuters outlines the movement’s growing role, stating that between 2,000 and 3,000 Islamist fighters were mobilized in the conflict’s first year, with over 70,000 civilians trained for combat under the army’s call for general mobilization.

While military leadership has downplayed connections to political factions, army sources and Islamists alike acknowledge that coordination exists, particularly within elite units where Islamist-trained operatives are embedded. Islamist forces have reportedly reinforced dwindling army ranks, especially in key battles around the capital, Khartoum.

Ahmed Haroun, who escaped from prison at the onset of the conflict, proposed a governance model that preserves military control over national sovereignty and security, with a civilian prime minister emerging from future elections.

He insisted that Islamists will only return through elections, not via transitional arrangements, and argued that Sudan needs a tailored political model that accommodates military involvement due to ongoing security threats and foreign interference.

While denying the scale of Islamist involvement described in the leaked documents, Haroun admitted that supporting the army was part of a broader strategy in response to the national call for mobilization.

Military sources estimate that at least 5,000 fighters directly linked to the former ruling party are active, with many serving in specialized units or intelligence services.

Despite these developments, Haroun and other Islamist figures maintain that they do not wield authority over the army. Still, their growing influence on the battlefield and political landscape has sparked renewed concerns about the possible resurgence of Sudan’s old guard in the post-war order.