Report: UAE undermines Hadi's authority in Yemen through separatists

The UAE’s support for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen is undermining the power of internationally backed President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, the Associated Press reported yesterday.

The news agency explaining that “Abu Dhabi favours supporting extremist Salafist groups against the Yemeni Rally for Reform Party, one of the most important elements supporting the country’s legitimate government.”

According to the analysis, the UAE also supports separatist leaders and militias to undermine Hadi’s authority.

Earlier this week, the agency reported that Saudi Arabia had prevented Hadi, his two sons and Yemeni ministers and military personnel from returning to Yemen, due to the “bitter hostility between Hadi and the UAE, which is part of the Saudi-led alliance, and controls southern Yemen”. The Yemeni senior officials are reported to have been placed under house arrest in the Kingdom.

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“The Saudi ban came months ago,” the agency quoted unnamed Yemeni officials as saying.

The analysis confirms that despite the Arab coalition operations and the killing of thousands, Houthi rebels continue to control large areas in Yemen including the capital Sana’a and are well armed and supported by forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.