Yemen: Banks strike in protest against brutal robberies

Yemeni banks began a three-day strike today in protest against a spate of brutal robberies across the south of the country, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported.

Ten armed men, wearing military uniforms, stormed the National Bank of Yemen’s Aden branch on Thursday in an attempt to rob it. When the bank manager, Abdullah Salem Al-Naqib, refused to open the safe, they shot him dead. Three employees were also injured.

Twelve banks signed a joint statement notifying the local government authorities of the strike.

Local media reports claimed that the armed men’s uniforms resembled that of the Security Belt Forces, which is supported by the United Arab Emirates. The majority of the bank robberies have been taking place in southern Yemen, Aden and areas under the control of forces linked to the UAE and the government of the internationally recognised President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.