Yemen's Prime Minister Returns to Aden After Months of Leading Exiled Government

The spokesperson for the Yemeni government announced that Khaled Bahah, the Prime Minister of Yemen, returned to Aden on Wednesday, September 25. The Yemeni government had been in exile in Saudi Arabia for months due to the advance of Houthi Shiite forces in the south of the country. Rajeh Badi, the spokesperson for the Yemeni government, who also holds the position of Deputy President, arrived in Aden along with several ministers. This occurred after forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi managed to push back Iranian-backed Houthis from southern Yemen in July. Khaled Bahah's return to Aden from Saudi Arabia follows the return of these ministers. The Prime Minister had made a brief visit to Aden at the beginning of August. The Yemeni government spokesperson told Reuters that Khaled Bahah and the ministers who returned with him are expected to stay in the city. President Mansur Abdrabbuh Hadi remains in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, a Yemeni security official told the German news agency that 'the Prime Minister's return signifies the start of the government's work to fulfill its duties in guiding the country's affairs and restoring its legality.' The unnamed official added that the Yemeni government is set to hold a meeting next week. The ministers of interior, communications, planning, social affairs, and refugees are among those who have returned to Aden. Since the recapture of Aden, government loyalist forces have made further advances in southern Yemen, although a large part of the country remains under Houthi control, which dominates the capital, Sana'a. Saudi Arabia and its regional allies have been conducting airstrikes since March to support the legitimate government and push back the Houthis from their occupied territories, resulting in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. The city of Aden, with a population of one million, has witnessed chaos and disorder due to the actions of local fighters, including supporters of the president, since its recapture. Residents complain that local officials are negligent in resuming basic services and collecting garbage, which has piled up in the streets since March. They also report seeing fighters from outside the city, including al-Qaeda-affiliated forces, in the streets, causing fear and concern among the people.