Radar Aden | رادار عدن

Eighth Edition | Report Date: (7/15 – 7/31) Second Half of July 2026
Geographical Scope: The Capital, Aden (Sheikh Othman, Al Mansoura, Al Mualla, Khormaksar, Al Buraiqeh, Dar Saad, Seera, Al Tawahi)

Field Report Summary

Overview

The second half of July 2026 saw a sharp escalation in political and security tension in the capital, Aden, led by a widespread, mutual campaign of raising and removing photos of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC) leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi. This led to scattered armed clashes in Buraiqa (July 15) and Inma, and an exchange of gunfire in Sheikh Othman, before culminating in two mass rallies in Mansoura (July 18 and 26) organized by the dissolved STC under slogans of “no to external guardianship” and rejecting the “services war,” and then a third gathering that began escalating from July 29 toward Maashiq Palace at the call of the STC-affiliated “Supreme Military Authority.” This coincided with a serious armed clash in Mansoura (July 21) between two security forces over a land dispute that left one person dead and several wounded, and National Security forces reclaiming the headquarters of the General Federation of Republic Workers from a union body loyal to the STC. It also coincided with escalating military-mobilization indicators (the Emergency Forces and Homeland Shield forces opening recruitment, and an unconfirmed rumor of paid recruitment via the “Southern Youth Council”) amid a salary crisis affecting thousands of Fourth Military Region soldiers due to delays in issuing new personal ID cards.

On the services front, no substantial improvement was recorded: water remained cut off from the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood in Sheikh Othman for about six months, water was cut for five consecutive days in parts of Mansoura against only two hours of very weak pumping, and water-tanker prices doubled in Maala, Tawahi and Seera. In contrast, the platform documented a series of partial institutional responses, most notably the completion of a new pump installation at the Al-Mamdara sewage station in Sheikh Othman (a continuation of the success story documented in the Seventh Report), the replacement of damaged feeder switches and transformers in the Al-Luhoom neighborhood of Dar Saad, the start of the first phase of solar street lighting in Buraiqa, and the supply of emergency medicines and supplies to primary healthcare centers there.

Socially and psychologically, a new and notable indicator emerged: repeated talk of “reverse displacement” (leaving Aden) in four of the districts covered by the assessment, and a sample of respondents describing the security situation as “out of control” in two districts (Sheikh Othman and Mansoura) for the first time in several editions, against a rare case of relative reassurance in Tawahi. Economically, the sharp rise in fish prices continued (the “al-thamad” variety reached 16,000 rial per kilo), amid chaos in the domestic gas market and wide price disparities in basic goods between districts. On the security and environmental front, the period recorded a series of scattered fires (Kod Al-Othmani, Crater, Maala, Dar Saad) that exposed clear weakness in Civil Defense’s ability to respond quickly, alongside two serious assault incidents targeting children in Buraiqa and Sheikh Othman, the drowning death of a girl at the Elephant Bay resort, and an incident in which armed men stormed a chemical tanker in the international waters of the Gulf of Aden.

Note to reader: This summary is followed by the full detailed report, an indicator chart by district, and urgent recommendations below.

Impact of Previous Reports (A Success Story for the “Radar Aden” Platform)

From Field Monitoring to Institutional Response

• Completion of the Al-Mamdara sewage pump: The relevant authorities completed the installation and replacement of a new pump at the Al-Mamdara sewage station to address the sewage-overflow problem, in a direct continuation of the response by Sheikh Othman district director Wissam Muawiya that was documented in the Seventh Report.
• Electrical network maintenance in Al-Luhoom (Dar Saad): Field maintenance teams from the Public Electricity Corporation replaced damaged feeder switches and transformers in the Al-Luhoom neighborhood of Dar Saad, a direct response to fault and electrical-hazard indicators documented in previous reports.
• Solar lighting and health services in Buraiqa: The first phase of solar street lighting on Buraiqa’s main street began operating, primary healthcare centers there were supplied with emergency medicines and supplies for summer illnesses, and a free medical camp was held for diabetes and blood-pressure screening.
• Rapid restoration of water pumping at Bir Ahmed: After pumping stopped from the Bir Ahmed water field due to fallen lighting poles from the storm, the Buraiqa district officer personally intervened on July 28 and directed the technical teams to expedite the work, restoring the field to efficient operation within a short time.
• Health and commercial field inspections: The Sheikh Othman Health Office conducted a field inspection of pharmacies to verify price controls and the validity of emergency medicines, while the Ministry of Industry and Trade Office conducted a field inspection to monitor bread (rooti) weights and prices at bakeries and residential areas.
• Relative security improvement: Aden Police announced its statistical report for July 2026, recording 271 criminal cases solved out of 324 reports, an 84% clearance rate, amid broad campaigns against drug gangs across Aden, cable-theft gangs in Tawahi, and pickpocketing gangs in Maala, which was reflected in relative relief among some residents.
• Reopening of the 22 May Surgical Hospital: The 22 May Surgical Hospital in Mansoura was reopened under new management and restored to its original name, under the supervision of Governor Abdul Rahman Sheikh and Mansoura district director Hani al-Yazidi — a positive indicator for the health sector in the district whose actual impact on service quality should be monitored.

The platform will continue to monitor the actual impact of these responses on the level of service provided to citizens, especially since most of them remain limited in scope compared to the scale of the crises recorded.

Key Challenges and Field Indicators

1. Service Collapse and Public Safety

• Extended water outage: The Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood in Sheikh Othman remains without water for about six consecutive months, while water was cut for five consecutive days in parts of Mansoura (Remi) against only two hours of very weak pumping that does not reach upper floors.
• Doubling of water-tanker prices: Maala, Tawahi and Seera recorded a doubling of water-tanker prices, with the price of a single tanker (less than 50,000 liters) reaching 40,000 rial.
• Fluctuating electricity with a partial improvement indicator in Seera: Evening electricity supply ranged between zero and three hours in most districts against outages of up to 9-10 hours, while outage hours in Seera fell from 8 to 4 hours by the end of the period.
• Recurring fires and weak Civil Defense response: The period recorded house fires in Kod Al-Othmani and Al-Mahareeq (Sheikh Othman), Crater and Maala, alongside a fire at a hardware store in Sheikh Othman and a workshop in Dar Saad, with notable delays in Civil Defense teams arriving and an acute shortage of personnel and equipment, forcing residents to intervene themselves to put out the fires.
• July 25-26 storm: Winds and storms caused scattered lighting poles to fall across Aden, with the Bir Ahmed area the worst affected as water pumping from the water field stopped before being restored within two days.

2. Security and Political Developments

• Political-symbols crisis: A mutual campaign of raising and removing photos of Aidarus al-Zubaidi in Mansoura, Buraiqa, Sheikh Othman, Inma and Dar Saad led to armed clashes in Buraiqa (July 15) and Inma, and an exchange of gunfire in Sheikh Othman.
• Two events in Mansoura (July 18 and 26): The dissolved Southern Transitional Council organized a march (around 500 participants) on July 18 and a protest sit-in (between 800 and 1,200 participants) on July 26, rejecting “external guardianship” and the “services war,” and demanding a renewed mandate for its leader.
• Escalating gathering toward Maashiq (from July 29 onward): The STC-affiliated “Supreme Military Authority” called for a peaceful gathering toward Maashiq Palace, with the number of participants rising to about 150 people by the time of writing, raising slogans against Saudi Arabia and the legitimate government.
• Deadly clash over a land dispute (July 21): An armed clash broke out between two security forces in Mansoura over a land dispute, leaving one person dead and a number wounded.
• Recovery of the General Federation of Republic Workers headquarters: National Security forces reclaimed the Federation’s headquarters from what is known as the “Southern Unions Federation,” backed by the dissolved STC, after years of it holding control.
• Storming of a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden: Armed men stormed a chemical-materials tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Aden, on the edge of the port’s shipping basin.
• Two assault incidents targeting children: The platform recorded an attempt to lure a six-year-old girl for assault in Buraiqa (thwarted by her screaming), and an attempted kidnapping of a child in Sheikh Othman thwarted by neighbors intervening.
• Military mobilization and a salary crisis: The Emergency Forces and Homeland Shield forces opened recruitment (the latter on condition the volunteer bring their own weapon), amid an unconfirmed rumor of paid recruitment via the “Southern Youth Council,” while thousands of Fourth Military Region soldiers have not received their salaries due to delays in issuing their new personal ID cards.

3. Economic Situation and Food Security

• Continued sharp rise in fish prices: The price of the “al-thamad” variety reached 16,000 rial per kilo in Sheikh Othman, a continuation of the sharp-disparity indicator recorded in the Seventh Report.
• Chaos in the domestic gas market: Price manipulation and variation between stations and agents amid an absence of effective oversight, doubling the burden on families forced to the black market.
• Wide disparity in basic goods prices: Chicken prices ranged between 3,000 and 8,000 rial, flour (50 kg) between 32,000 and 64,500 rial, and qat between 10,000 and 15,000 rial per bundle depending on the district.
• Worrying economic rumors: Wide circulation of a rumor that major merchants and money-changers in Mansoura were refusing certain denominations of the Yemeni rial, alongside an unconfirmed rumor about the contamination of the main water tank in Buraiqa.

4. Public Mood and Popular Protests

• Rising talk of “reverse displacement”: For the first time this explicitly, talk of the intention to leave Aden was repeated in four of the districts covered by the assessment (Mansoura, Tawahi, Sheikh Othman, and again Mansoura), an indicator of rising livelihood and security frustration.
• “Out of control” description of the security situation for the first time in two districts: Respondents in Sheikh Othman and Mansoura described the security situation as “out of control,” a more negative classification than the “anxious” or “tense” that prevailed in previous reports.
• Repeated nighttime terror in Maala: Residents of Maala and Tawahi reported a weekly, organized recurrence of heavy gunfire and fireworks sounds at unusual times (dawn or noon), sparking speculation about “psychological warfare” against residents.
• Discontent over the pensions file: Retirees demanded the dismissal of the head of the General Authority for Pensions and Social Security after an announcement of July salary disbursement accompanied by his photo, in wording considered closer to a personal favor than an earned right.
• Repeated phrases summing up general exhaustion: “We are living without a life.. we just pretend we are alive,” and “Aden is on the verge of dying from the high cost of living,” against a more resilient phrase repeated in Buraiqa: “Stand firm, men.”

Response Roadmap (Key Urgent Recommendations)

Based on the field indicators documented during the period (July 15-31, 2026), the “Radar Aden” platform recommends urgent action along the following tracks:

Security and Legal Track

• A transparent, swift investigation into the July 21 clash in Mansoura (one killed, several wounded) and holding those responsible from both security parties accountable, as well as those involved in the July 15 clashes in Buraiqa.
• Pursuing the perpetrators of the attempted assault on a girl in Buraiqa and the attempted kidnapping of a child in Sheikh Othman, and providing community protection for children in affected neighborhoods.
• Establishing a unified security protocol governing the raising and removal of political symbols without escalation or use of weapons, to prevent a repeat of what happened in Inma, Sheikh Othman and Buraiqa.
• Investigating the storming of the chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden in coordination with the coast guard and relevant international bodies concerned with maritime safety.

Service Track

• Urgently addressing the water outage in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman (about 6 months) and the Remi neighborhood of Mansoura (5 days).
• Replicating the successful electrical-network maintenance model from Al-Luhoom (Dar Saad) in other districts, especially Mansoura and Maala.
• Regulating the water-tanker market after prices doubled in Maala, Tawahi and Seera.
• Supporting Civil Defense teams with personnel and equipment to reduce response times to recurring fires.

Economic and Living Track

• Investigating the continued sharp rise in fish prices and addressing its causes (monopoly, unofficial fees, transport costs).
• Regulating the domestic gas market and stopping price manipulation between stations and agents.
• Issuing a swift official clarification regarding the rumor of contamination of the Buraiqa water tank to stop the panic circulating on social media.

Political and Social Track

• Opening urgent mediation channels to de-escalate tensions linked to recurring political gatherings (July 18, 26 and 29) before they slide into armed confrontations.
• Ensuring full transparency in the investigation into the fate of Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ashal al-Ja’adani, in coordination with his family and the tribes of Abyan.
• A fair review of licensing policy for kiosks and small projects that includes local youth without discrimination.

Detailed Report

Introduction

The “Radar Aden” platform continues to monitor and document the capital Aden’s interactions with its interlinked crises, presenting in this Eighth Edition a picture of the second half of July 2026 — a period marked by the most dangerous wave of tension over political symbols the city has seen in months, culminating in three mass rallies organized by the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, coinciding with a serious armed clash over a land dispute in Mansoura, and National Security forces reclaiming a union headquarters that had been under the control of a body loyal to the STC for years. The period saw no improvement in the state of basic services; rather, the acute water crisis in Sheikh Othman and Mansoura continued, against a number of partial institutional responses in the electricity, health, and solar-lighting sectors in Buraiqa, Dar Saad and Mansoura.

Socially, a new indicator emerged during the period: rising talk of “reverse displacement” (leaving Aden) in several districts, and the security situation being described as “out of control” for the first time in two districts. Economically, the sharp rise in fish prices and chaos in the domestic gas market continued, while the period recorded a series of fires that exposed clear weakness in Civil Defense’s ability to respond quickly.

As with previous editions, this edition relies on documented field assessment through the eyes of Youth Committee volunteers using three integrated monitoring forms (general assessment, popular-mood monitoring, and event documentation), alongside daily follow-up of security, political and economic developments in the capital, achieving the principle of triangulated verification and limiting the impact of circulating rumors.

Impact of Previous Reports (A Success Story for the “Radar Aden” Platform)

From Field Monitoring to Institutional Response

Continuing “Radar Aden”‘s approach of converting field assessment data into tangible institutional responses, this edition documents a further series of indicators of monitoring translating into action:

1. Completion of the Sewage Pump at Al-Mamdara (Sheikh Othman)

In a direct continuation of the success story documented in the Seventh Report regarding the response of Sheikh Othman district director Wissam Muawiya to the platform’s calls for oversight of fuel supplied to sewage stations, this period saw the completion of the installation and replacement of a new pump at the Al-Mamdara sewage station to address the sewage-overflow problem, an indicator of the continuity of the administrative response rather than it being a one-off measure.

2. Electrical Network Maintenance in Al-Luhoom (Dar Saad)

Field maintenance teams from the Public Electricity Corporation replaced damaged feeder switches and transformers in the Al-Luhoom neighborhood of Dar Saad, a direct response to fault and electrical-hazard indicators (exposed wires and damaged transformers) documented by previous field assessments in several districts.

3. Solar Lighting and Primary Healthcare in Buraiqa

The first phase of solar street lighting on Buraiqa’s main street began operating, primary healthcare centers there were supplied with emergency medicines and supplies for summer illnesses, and a free medical camp was held for diabetes and blood-pressure screening — an indicator of a multi-dimensional sectoral response specifically in this district.

4. Rapid Restoration of Water Pumping from Bir Ahmed Field

After pumping stopped from the Bir Ahmed water field due to lighting poles falling in the July 25-26 storm, the Buraiqa district officer personally intervened on July 28 with a field visit and instructed the technical teams to expedite the work, restoring the field to efficient operation within a relatively short time — a model worth emulating for rapid response from local administrative leadership.

5. Health and Commercial Field Inspections

The Sheikh Othman Health Office conducted a field inspection of pharmacies to verify price controls and the validity of emergency medicines, while the Ministry of Industry and Trade Office conducted a field inspection to monitor bread (rooti) weights and prices at bakeries and residential areas, continuing the pattern of field oversight first recorded in the Seventh Report.

6. Additional Positive Indicators

• Aden Police announced its statistical report for July 2026, recording 271 criminal cases solved out of 324 reports, an 84% security-clearance rate, amid broad campaigns against drug gangs, cable-theft gangs in Tawahi, and pickpocketing gangs in Maala.
• The 22 May Surgical Hospital in Mansoura was reopened under new management and restored to its original name.
• The local authority and the Aden Education Office held a small honoring ceremony for the top high-school graduates at the governorate level.
• A shipment of spare parts and equipment arrived for emergency preventive-maintenance work at the Al-Hiswa power station to strengthen the generators.
• The first phase of rehabilitating and planting green spaces at Tawahi’s public park began, and a cleanup campaign was organized on July 26 to remove debris and damaged cars from Tawahi’s streets.

Despite these multiple indicators, the platform remains committed to monitoring the actual impact of these responses on the level of service provided to citizens, especially since most of them remain geographically limited compared to the scale of crises recorded in other districts.

First: Basic Services and Public Institutions Sector (Extended Water Crisis and Scattered Maintenance Indicators)

The services sector continued to deteriorate in several districts during the second half of July, with an acute water crisis continuing in Sheikh Othman and Mansoura, against indicators of maintenance and partial improvement in Seera, Dar Saad and Buraiqa.

1. The Electricity and Fuel Crisis

• The situation on the ground: Evening electricity supply ranged between zero and three hours in most districts against outages of up to 9-10 hours; in the Remi neighborhood of Mansoura evening supply did not exceed one hour against 9-10 hours of outage, and in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman morning supply did not exceed one hour against 8-9 hours of outage. By contrast, Tawahi (Al-Qalluah) recorded relatively better indicators of 2-3 hours of supply against only 3-5 hours of outage.
• Partial improvement indicator in Seera: Field sources reported that electricity in Seera was stable at 8 hours of outage against two hours of supply, with outages peaking at 11 hours on July 31, before the rate later fell to 4 hours of outage against two hours of supply, coinciding with a partial water-network maintenance operation that helped water reach higher-elevation areas of the district.
• Proactive maintenance in Dar Saad: Field maintenance teams from the Public Electricity Corporation replaced damaged feeder switches and transformers in Al-Luhoom, a step that deserves replication in other districts facing the same risks.
• Solar lighting in Buraiqa: The first phase of solar street lighting on Buraiqa’s main street began operating, and a shipment of spare parts arrived for the Al-Hiswa power station to strengthen the generators.
• Storm damage: Winds and storms on July 25 and 26 caused scattered lighting poles to fall across Aden, with the Bir Ahmed area the worst affected, as water pumping from the water field stopped before efficient operation was restored on July 28 after the Buraiqa district officer intervened.

2. Deterioration of Water and Sewage Services

• Extended outage in Sheikh Othman: The Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood still suffers an almost total water outage that has extended to about six consecutive months, according to a field volunteer, while outage durations in other neighborhoods of the district vary between total cutoff and intermittent pumping every three days at irregular times.
• Acute water crisis in Mansoura: Five consecutive days of outage were recorded in the Remi neighborhood against only two hours of very weak pumping, with water reaching upper floors only via electric “dynamo” pumps that themselves fail due to the absence of electricity, forcing families to buy water tankers at a cost beyond their means.
• Completion of the Al-Mamdara pump: The installation and replacement of a new pump at the Al-Mamdara sewage station was completed to address the sewage-overflow problem, a continuation of the Seventh Report’s success story.
• Partial improvement in Seera: A partial water-network maintenance operation in Seera contributed to improving water access in the district’s higher-elevation areas.
• Doubling of water-tanker prices: Maala, Tawahi and Seera recorded a doubling of water-tanker prices, with the price of a single tanker (less than 50,000 liters) reaching 40,000 rial, adding to the livelihood burden on families entirely dependent on tankers.

3. Infrastructure and Public Safety Risks

• Recurring fires and weak Civil Defense response: The Kod Al-Othmani and Al-Mahareeq areas of Sheikh Othman saw two consecutive house fires caused by electrical short-circuits, with major delays in Civil Defense teams’ arrival forcing local residents to intervene themselves and put out most of the fire before fire trucks arrived, which in turn faced an acute shortage of personnel and equipment. Similar fires were also recorded in Crater in Sheikh Othman, along with a fire at a hardware store in Sheikh Othman and a workshop in Dar Saad.
• Encroachment on the Al-Jawi cemetery lands in Seera: Citizens observed construction work on part of the Al-Jawi cemetery lands in Seera district, with some accusing the Aden Endowments Office of tampering with endowment and cemetery lands.
• Demolition of an elderly woman’s home without notice: Widespread condemnation in Sheikh Othman after the district’s Obstacles Department demolished the home of an elderly woman who had rebuilt her wooden hut in brick, without prior notice.
• Continuation of traditional hazards: Continued spread of exposed and dangling electrical wires, sewage overflow, deep unguarded pits, and accumulated construction debris and garbage in several districts (Sheikh Othman, Mansoura, Buraiqa).
• Cleanup campaign in Tawahi: The local authority organized a campaign on July 26 to remove debris and damaged cars from Tawahi’s streets, alongside the start of the first phase of rehabilitating and planting green spaces at Tawahi’s public park.

4. Status of Public Institutions

The field assessment showed clear variation in the performance of public institutions between districts. In Sheikh Othman (Omar al-Mukhtar neighborhood), the assessment recorded a near-total collapse of the health sector (an acute shortage of life-saving medicines and a flight of medical staff to private clinics), deterioration of the government education sector (student dropout and poor school conditions with delayed teacher salaries), a sanitation crisis persisting for 11 years without a fundamental solution, chaos in the domestic gas and rationing sector, and disorder in the public transport sector. On the other hand, an incident was recorded of Bank of Aden Al-Awwal currency-exchange kiosks being set up on the main walkway, while authorities refused to license a kiosk for a local young man despite his presence there for 11 years, sparking widespread resentment among youth.

In Mansoura, the Mansoura Government Health Center (Remi) operates partially due to a shortage of medical staff and a lack of generator fuel, the post office operates limited hours due to power outages and the halt of communications systems, while Haneen Park remains the main outlet for residents fleeing the heat of their homes. In Buraiqa, the police, the general hospital and the district office operate normally, though with a shortage of staff at the electricity emergency office and continued theft of cables and power lines; Buraiqa also shows the issue of Aden Refineries workers being excluded and demanding the refinery resume operation, and an almost total absence of the Ministry of Fisheries’ role in serving fishermen. In Dar Saad, the wall of Abda Fadel School (one of the district’s oldest schools) was demolished and rebuilt proactively before students’ return, after it had become at risk of collapse.

Second: Security and Political Dynamics (Political-Symbols Crisis and Three Waves of Mass Mobilization)

This period was one of the most tense periods in terms of political symbols and mobilization, as a mutual campaign of raising and removing photos of political leaders escalated into scattered armed clashes, culminating in three mass rallies, coinciding with a deadly clash over a land dispute, the recovery of a union headquarters, and the storming of a chemical tanker offshore.

1. The Political-Symbols Campaign and its Security Fallout

The period saw a widespread, mutual campaign of raising and removing photos of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi in several districts. In Buraiqa (July 15), clashes broke out between Homeland Shield forces and STC supporters over an attempt to take down photos of al-Zubaidi, causing injuries and damage to public and private property for both sides and for citizens, with effects continuing until the end of the month as new removal attempts were met with resistance from supporters in some places. In Inma, armed clashes occurred during a campaign to remove al-Zubaidi’s photos, injuring National Security soldiers, while a similar campaign in Sheikh Othman occurred without direct confrontation before later escalating into an exchange of gunfire in the Omar al-Mukhtar neighborhood after one photo was removed. In Dar Saad, a march by STC supporters demanding an end to “Saudi guardianship” was accompanied by an intensive raising of al-Zubaidi’s photos without any friction recorded.

2. The July 18 March in Mansoura

The dissolved Southern Transitional Council organized a popular march on Al-Ridha Street in Mansoura (from Martyrs’ Square to the Caltex roundabout) with about 500 participants, under slogans of “renewing the mandate” for Council leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi, rejecting Saudi guardianship and any external interference, and denouncing the “services war” and salary delays. Flags of the former southern state and photos of al-Zubaidi and Council leaders and symbols were raised. The event began with a misunderstanding and minor dispute with the “16 February” movement, which prevented the STC from holding a similar event in Martyrs’ Square, which it controls, before the issue was resolved peacefully and the event continued without security interventions or damage.

3. The July 26 Protest Sit-in

The Executive Body of the STC’s Local Leadership in Aden (dissolved STC) organized a peaceful mass sit-in in the streets surrounding Mansoura Square, with participation ranging between 800 and 1,200 citizens and activists, and a gathering of between 30 and 40 vehicles. Participants raised slogans such as “No to external guardianship over the southern decision,” “O coalition, o government.. electricity and water are legitimate rights,” and “We will not submit to a policy of systematic starvation and summer torment,” directed against Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi and his government, “services war” policies, and the regional political roadmap. The event was marked by a high level of organization and complete peacefulness with no altercations or arrests, with a preventive deployment of National Security forces (Third Sector) around the square’s perimeter, while Homeland Shield forces maintained neutrality and protected facilities to avoid any provocation.

4. Escalating Gathering Toward Maashiq (from July 29 Onward)

At the call of the STC-affiliated “Supreme Military Authority,” a peaceful gathering began converging toward Maashiq Palace, starting from Sheikh Othman and Khor Maksar, with the number of participants rising to about 150 people and 5 buses, raising slogans “against Saudi aggression” and others against the legitimate government, alongside photos of al-Zubaidi and southern flags. No frictions or security interventions had been recorded by the time of writing, but the continuation of the gathering and its rising numbers calls for close security monitoring to prevent a slide into escalation.

5. Deadly Clash Over a Land Dispute (July 21)

An armed clash broke out on Al-Kathiri Street in Mansoura between a Security Belt force and elements of another force over a dispute concerning a plot of land, lasting from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., leaving one person dead and a number wounded. One field volunteer recommended not disclosing the names of those who filed the reports given the sensitivity of the content.

6. Recovery of the General Federation of Republic Workers Headquarters

National Security forces reclaimed the headquarters of the General Federation of Republic Workers and handed it over to the original Federation leadership, after years of control by what is known as the “Southern Unions Federation,” which was established with the backing of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council — an indicator of an institutional move to bring some disputed union bodies back under control.

7. Storming of a Chemical Tanker in the Gulf of Aden

Armed men stormed a chemical-materials tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Aden, on the edge of the port’s shipping basin, an incident raising security concerns over the safety of maritime navigation near the Yemeni coast.

8. Two Assault Incidents Targeting Children and a Harassment Incident

The platform recorded an attempt to lure a six-year-old girl for the purpose of assaulting her in Buraiqa, thwarted when the perpetrator fled after the girl screamed, and an attempted kidnapping of a child from outside his home in Sheikh Othman at three in the afternoon, thwarted by a woman’s screaming, alongside a harassment incident involving a girl in Inma. The girl Fatima also drowned, her body recovered after swimming at the Elephant Bay resort, amid repeated warnings about the dangers of swimming during the summer months that many did not heed, which also led to the drowning of one citizen in Buraiqa and two in Tawahi (Al-Ashaq beach), against the rescue of 4 children in Buraiqa and two young men in Tawahi.

9. Military Mobilization and the Fourth Military Region Salary Crisis

The Emergency Forces announced they were opening recruitment in their ranks, and requested pilots and military aviation engineers, while Homeland Shield forces opened temporary combat recruitment on condition that the volunteer bring their own weapon. In a related context, an unconfirmed rumor circulated that the “Southern Youth Council” (led by Khattab Ahmed Baraas) had announced it was opening recruitment for forces it is forming to fight the Houthis in exchange for 750 Saudi riyals, without it being possible to verify its accuracy. Meanwhile, thousands of soldiers under the Fourth Military Region command have not received their salaries because they have not obtained the new personal ID card, forcing a large number of them to pawn their weapons, sell livestock, or borrow money to obtain the cards.

10. Street Division Over the War with the Houthis

Aden’s street is divided over the civil conflict with the Houthis; many opinions and activists, particularly those close to the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, call on citizens not to get involved in a war “that does not concern southerners,” while supporters of the republic and the federal state adopt a counter-narrative. Considerable resentment was recorded over some STC supporters shifting to explicit support for the Houthis, particularly after the legitimate authorities allowed a Mahan Air plane to land in Hodeidah, against a feeling of optimism after it was revealed that the Yemeni Air Force, not an external party, had bombed Sanaa Airport.

11. Miscellaneous Security and Political Incidents

• Encroachment on the Al-Jawi cemetery lands in Seera, with some citizens accusing the Aden Endowments Office of tampering with endowment and cemetery lands.
• Limited unrest on July 19: blocking the road linking Khor and Maala opposite the oil company office in protest at the gas crisis, followed by limited fighting between those blocking the road and vehicle owners, with the road reopened within 20 minutes.

• Acts of violence, stampede and stone-throwing and theft of phones at the Caltex roundabout during the screening of the World Cup final, caused by one attendee claiming there was a bomb, sparking mass panic.
• Insults and an attempted assault on some members of the presidency body of the Aden Federal Council by other members at its first meeting in the National Library hall in Seera, ending with the assaulted group withdrawing.
• Aden University students block the main road between Mansoura and Buraiqa (Al-Shaab intersection) to celebrate the end of the academic year, causing dozens of cars to jam up before the road was reopened with National Security forces present.

• Khattab Baraas, head of the Southern National Youth Council, dismisses his brother Ahmed from managing the Council’s financial department over violations and his support and backing for Aidarus al-Zubaidi, appointing Salem Ahmed al-Masri in his place.
• Widespread resentment over the Obstacles Department in Sheikh Othman demolishing an elderly woman’s home without prior notice.
• Retirees demand the dismissal of Ali Nasser al-Haddar, head of the General Authority for Pensions and Social Security, following the wording of the July salary-disbursement announcement accompanied by his photo, in a manner considered closer to a “personal favor” than an earned right.

Third: Market Activity and Food/Livelihood Security Indicators

Aden’s families faced escalating livelihood pressures during the second half of July, led by the continued sharp rise in fish prices and the doubling of water-tanker prices, amid chaos in the domestic gas market and wide disparities in basic goods prices between districts, with commercial activity marked by caution (between 50% and 75%) in most districts covered by the assessment.

The “al-thamad” fish variety continued to register sharp rises, reaching 16,000 rial per kilo in Sheikh Othman, an additional increase compared to the 14,000 rial recorded in the Seventh Report in Dar Saad, confirming the continuation of the sharp-disparity and rising-price indicator in the fish market. Chaos in the domestic gas market also worsened, with clear price manipulation and variation between stations and agents amid an absence of effective oversight from the Ministry of Industry and Trade Office, forcing families to buy gas on the black market at doubled prices in several districts (Buraiqa, Khor Maksar, Mansoura). The gas crisis in turn caused a crisis in the public transport sector, since most transport vehicles run on gas.

Economically as well, water-tanker prices doubled in Maala, Tawahi and Seera, reaching 40,000 rial for a single tanker (less than 50,000 liters), an additional burden on families who have lost regular access to the public water network. A rumor that major merchants and money-changers in Mansoura were refusing to accept certain denominations of the Yemeni rial sparked wide concern, despite the platform’s monitoring showing the currency continuing to be traded normally.

It was also observed during the past period that there was a crippling traffic crisis on the coastal road due to the absence of well-planned traffic organization and checkpoints between districts, which caused these crises, particularly on Aden’s main highway.

On the other hand, positive oversight indicators were recorded, represented by a field visit by the Ministry of Industry and Trade Office to monitor bread weights and prices at bakeries, and a visit by the Sheikh Othman Health Office to inspect pharmacies and verify price controls and the validity of emergency medicines — steps that should be replicated and expanded to cover other basic food items.

Fourth: Food Security Indicators and Rumors Table

1. Field-Monitored Price Indicators (in Yemeni Rials)

Item / Food Material	Average Price or Range (in YER)	Notes and Field Indicators
Chicken (kg/unit)	2,000 to 8,500	Notable drop in Sheikh Othman (roughly 1,400/kg) due to the “al-Tayyibat” import system
Qat (bundle)	10,000 to 20,000	Sharp disparity between districts depending on supply availability
Cooking oil (liter)	1,100 to 3,000	Wide variation by neighborhood and type
Flour (50 kg)	32,000 to 64,500	Sharp disparity between districts
Rice (kg)	1,500 to 3,000	Relative stability within each individual district
Sugar (kg)	1,200 to 2,200	Moderate disparity
Bread (single loaf)	70 to 200	Relative stability in most districts
Fish (“al-thamad” variety)	Up to 16,000 per kg in Sheikh Othman	Continuation of the sharp rise recorded in the Seventh Report
Water tanker (less than 50,000 liters)	Around 40,000	Prices doubled in Maala, Tawahi and Seera

2. Rumors and Psychological Impact Table

We confirm that what follows is classified as “unconfirmed news” subject to verification, and is included here solely for the purpose of monitoring public mood:

Rumor Type	Details of the Rumor	Extent of Public Belief
Security / criminal	Kidnapping of two girls by an organized armed gang demanding a ransom in Mansoura	Fully believed at first, before Mansoura Police officially denied it (July 25), clarifying it was a voluntary departure over a family dispute
Security / rights-related	Killing of Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ashal al-Ja’adani (forcibly disappeared) and dumping of his body at sea to close the case	Divided; his family and the tribes of Abyan demand a transparent judicial investigation
Economic	Major merchants and money-changers in Mansoura refusing certain denominations of the Yemeni rial in preparation for rejecting it entirely	Divided
Security / military	Complete closure of Aden International Port for military reasons following the deployment of Homeland Shield forces at Jabal Hadid and Ras Abbas	Not believed
Military	An imminent military attack to liberate Sanaa, following the revelation that the Yemeni Air Force bombed Sanaa Airport	High belief, accompanied by popular optimism
Security	Saudi airstrikes on camps inside Aden, Houthi escalation to enter Aden, and clashes at Aqabat Tharah and Dhale foreshadowing escalation	Divided, with rising anxiety
Social / criminal	Scattered cases of child kidnapping in Sheikh Othman	High belief due to actual incidents recorded in the field
Political	“Selling out” the southern cause as part of any upcoming political settlement	High belief
Security	The burning of Aden Airport following a car-bomb explosion there	Not true
Service-related	Contamination of the main water tank in Buraiqa district, rendering it unusable	Circulating on social media, unconfirmed

Popular phrases summing up the state of anxiety and exhaustion were repeated, most notably: “We are living without a life.. we just pretend we are alive,” “Aden is on the verge of dying from the high cost of living,” and “Homes have turned into scorching ovens and dark graves,” against a more resilient and confident phrase repeated in Buraiqa: “Stand firm, men.”

Detailed Indicators by District

Based on the field indicators recorded, the following table shows the status of each district across three axes (services and infrastructure, safety and the urban environment, and public mood and the security situation), with an estimate of the overall status level (🔴 Critical / ⚠️ Concerning / 🟢 Relatively Stable):

District	Services and Infrastructure	Safety and Urban Environment	General Mood and Security
Mansoura (Critical)	🔴 5-day water outage in Remi and evening electricity supply not exceeding one hour	🔴 Encroachment and unauthorized construction; armed clash on July 21 (one killed, several wounded); recurring nighttime gunfire of unknown origin	🔴 Out of control: intensive raising of al-Zubaidi photos and southern flags; two mass events (July 18 and 26); talk of reverse displacement
Sheikh Othman (Critical)	🔴 6-month water outage in Abdullah Ghanim; near-total collapse of the health sector; completion of a new pump installation at the Al-Mamdara sewage station	🔴 Two consecutive fires with delayed Civil Defense response; demolition of an elderly woman’s home without notice; two assault and abduction attempts targeting children	🔴 Out of control: exchange of gunfire over removal of a political photo; resentment over discrimination in kiosk licensing
Al-Mualla (Critical)	🔴 Continuing electricity crisis; doubling of water-tanker prices (40,000 rial per tanker)	🔴 House fire; warehouse fire in Al-Matahin; recurring nighttime terror from gunfire and fireworks of unknown origin	🔴 Fears of “psychological warfare” against residents; mutual accusations between political and regional parties
Khor Maksar (Concerning)	⚠️ Limited field data; water cut 3 days a week	⚠️ Drowning death of a girl at the Elephant Bay resort	⚠️ The start of an escalating gathering toward Maashiq (from July 29 onward) with slogans against the government and Saudi Arabia
Dar Saad (Concerning)	⚠️ Relatively continuous water pumping; positive: electricity maintenance in Al-Luhoom; proactive maintenance of a school wall	⚠️ Fire at a hardware store and a workshop	⚠️ March by dissolved-STC supporters demanding an end to “Saudi guardianship”; general resentment toward the authorities and security forces
Buraiqa (Concerning)	⚠️ Cable theft and fuel shortages for pumps; positives: solar lighting, emergency health supplies, rapid restoration of Bir Ahmed pumping	⚠️ July 15 clashes over political photos (injuries and damage); attempted assault on a girl; drowning cases	⚠️ Anxiety and resentment toward the local authority and security forces
Crater / Seera (concerning, with partial improvemen)	🟢 Partial maintenance of Seera’s water network improved access to higher areas; electricity outages fell from 8 to 4 hours	⚠️ Encroachment on the Al-Jawi cemetery lands; house fire in Crater	⚠️ Resentment over accusations of tampering with endowment and cemetery lands
Tawahi (Stable and Improving)	🟢 Near-normal electricity; weak water supply; positives: cleanup campaign and rehabilitation of a public park	🟢 Drowning of citizens and rescue of others at Al-Ashaq beach despite seasonal drowning warnings	🟢 Relatively reassured with a welcoming attitude toward security forces, but increasing talk of reverse displacement and livelihood pressure

Urgent Recommendations for Relevant Authorities (Response Roadmap)

Based on the field and social indicators recorded by “Radar Aden” platform volunteers in the second half of July, we present the following package of immediate interventions to decision-makers across parallel response tracks:

1. To the Public Prosecution and Judiciary

• Open a transparent, swift investigation into the July 21 clash in Mansoura (a land dispute) that left one person dead and several wounded, and hold those responsible from both security parties accountable.
• Investigate the July 15 clashes in Buraiqa over political symbols and hold those involved from all sides accountable.
• Pursue the perpetrators of the two attempted assaults on a girl in Buraiqa and the kidnapping of a child in Sheikh Othman, and open testimony channels for the victims’ families.
• Ensure full transparency in any investigation related to the fate of Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ashal al-Ja’adani, and publish its findings for the public.

2. To the Ministry of Interior and Aden Security Leadership

• Establish a unified security protocol governing the raising and removal of political symbols and photos without escalation or use of weapons, to prevent a repeat of what happened in Buraiqa, Inma and Sheikh Othman.
• Immediately investigate the source of the recurring nighttime gunfire and fireworks in Maala and Tawahi, and clarify the matter to residents to end the state of apprehension and anxiety.
• Provide balanced, proportionate security for any gatherings heading toward Maashiq Palace to prevent escalation or provocation.
• Investigate the storming of the chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden in coordination with the coast guard and relevant international bodies concerned with maritime safety.
• Follow up on the fair implementation of the new kiosk-licensing ban (July 13) so it applies to everyone equally without discrimination among applicants.

3. To the Ministry of Electricity and the Public Electricity Corporation

• Replicate the successful field-maintenance model in Al-Luhoom (Dar Saad) in other districts, particularly Mansoura (Remi) and Maala.
• Complete the phases of solar lighting in Buraiqa and replicate the model in other districts.
• Carry out urgent maintenance of the Al-Hiswa power station’s electrical system, making use of the recently arrived shipment of spare parts.
• Accelerate the restoration of electricity supply in areas damaged by the July 25-26 storm, as was achieved in Bir Ahmed.

4. To the Local Water and Sanitation Corporation

• Urgently address the extended water outage in the Abdullah Ghanim neighborhood of Sheikh Othman (about 6 months) and the Remi neighborhood of Mansoura (5 days).
• Replicate the water-network maintenance approach partially applied in Seera in other affected districts.
• Follow up on the actual impact of the new pump at the Al-Mamdara station in Sheikh Othman and ensure the sustainability of its operation.
• Regulate the water-tanker market after prices doubled in Maala, Tawahi and Seera, and set an indicative price ceiling.

5. To the Aden Governorate and Local Government

• Stop encroachment and unauthorized construction attempts on the Al-Jawi cemetery lands in Seera and investigate accusations of tampering with endowment lands.
• Conduct a fair review of the kiosk and small-business licensing policy that includes local youth on the same footing as banks and large entities.
• Investigate the circumstances of the demolition of the elderly woman’s home in Sheikh Othman without prior notice, hold those responsible accountable, and compensate the affected woman.
• Support Civil Defense teams with personnel and equipment to reduce response times to recurring fires (Kod Al-Othmani, Crater, Maala, Dar Saad).

6. To the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Regulatory Bodies

• Investigate the continued sharp rise in fish prices (the “al-thamad” variety reaching 16,000 rial) and address its causes.
• Regulate the domestic gas market and stop price manipulation between stations and agents, and activate genuine oversight of weight and price.
• Expand bread weight and price monitoring campaigns to cover other basic food commodities.
• Issue a swift official clarification regarding the rumor of contamination of the Buraiqa water tank to stop the panic circulating on social media.

7. To the Ministry of Public Health and Population

• Address the acute shortage of staff and medicines at the Kod Al-Othmani health complex and Al-Sadaqa Teaching Hospital in Sheikh Othman.
• Replicate the model of supplying primary healthcare centers with medicines and supplies for summer illnesses (as happened in Buraiqa) in other districts.
• Monitor the performance of the new management of the 22 May Surgical Hospital in Mansoura and ensure service quality following its reopening.

8. To the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Aden Federal Council

• Investigate the incident of insults and the attempted assault on members of the presidency body of the Aden Federal Council at its first meeting, and ensure a disciplined institutional working environment.
• Regulate the organization of major public events (such as match screenings in public places) to prevent a repeat of incidents of unrest and stampedes as occurred at the Caltex roundabout.

9. To Civil Actors and the International Community

• Follow up on the case of Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ashal al-Ja’adani in coordination with his family and the tribes of Abyan to ensure full transparency.
• Support mediation efforts to de-escalate tensions linked to recurring political gatherings (July 18, 26 and 29) before they slide into armed confrontations.
• Monitor the humanitarian impact of the water-tanker crisis and rising prices on the poorest families, especially in Maala, Tawahi and Seera.