Southern Transitional Council (STC) in February 2026, Human Rights Watch stated. Protests occurred across Aden, Shabwa, and Hadramout governorates, with government forces firing at demonstrators, killing at least six people, injuring dozens, and detaining many without due process. In Aden and Hadramout, detained protesters were held for days without charges or access to legal counsel, highlighting arbitrary detention practices.
The protests followed a 90-day state of emergency declared on December 30, 2025, after the STC briefly gained control of parts of Hadramout. Citizens took to the streets to express support for the STC, which had announced its dissolution, while some demonstrations aimed to remove national symbols and replace them with the flag of the former South Yemen state. Security forces in Shabwa and Aden opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. Video and eyewitness accounts confirmed excessive use of force, including firing from armored vehicles and detaining protesters in harsh conditions.
Human Rights Watch documented these incidents through interviews with 13 protesters and witnesses, as well as reviews of photographs, videos, and social media livestreams. Some protesters were accused of attacking government buildings, though many claimed the demonstrations were peaceful. Children were among those injured, and several detainees were held without charges or access to family. Despite requests for responses, the Yemeni government did not provide official accounts until the release of some detainees by presidential directive in March.
The human rights organization emphasized that Yemen’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protect freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, allowing only narrowly defined restrictions for public safety or security. Human Rights Watch called on the Yemeni government to investigate all instances of excessive force, ensure accountability for unlawful actions, and prevent the repetition of violations. The organization also stressed the need for the government to provide justice for prior STC-related abuses and to respect the rights of citizens during political transitions.
Throughout the 11-year conflict in Yemen, both government forces and the STC have suppressed free expression and violated protesters’ rights. Human Rights Watch highlighted specific incidents, including the February 6 protest at Seiyun airport in Hadramout, where security forces fired on demonstrators, and the February 11 march in Ataq, Shabwa, which escalated into gunfire with unclear responsibility. Protesters in Aden on February 19 attempting to storm the presidential palace faced similar excessive force and arbitrary detention. The repeated use of force against demonstrators illustrates a broader pattern of rights violations in southern Yemen.
The organization concluded that the Yemeni government must uphold human rights, provide accountability for security forces’ actions, and protect the rights of all citizens to peacefully assemble and express political opinions without fear of violence or arbitrary detention.
