News - Yemen: The city of Aden, under occupation, has witnessed unprecedented popular protests in recent days as citizens express mounting anger over deteriorating living conditions and the lack of basic services. The unrest underscores the deep political and administrative failures in areas under the control of the Saudi-Emirati occupation and the so-called “local government.”

Hundreds of residents took to the streets in neighborhoods including Al-Mualla, Crater, and Mansoura, demanding improved services, electricity, and water access. Power outages have reportedly reached over 20 hours per day, while fuel shortages and soaring prices have created long queues at gas stations.

Citizens described daily life as unbearable due to water shortages, rising prices of essential goods and medicine, and the absence of effective government intervention. Observers note that these protests are a manifestation of long-suppressed public frustration with the coalition’s policies of deprivation and marginalization.

The Saudi-Emirati occupation is accused of deliberately impoverishing citizens to maintain control over ports and oil and gas resources, whose revenues are reportedly accumulated by local collaborators and officials abroad.

The crisis extends beyond economic hardship, as Aden faces widespread insecurity, including gang activity, assassinations, and looting, turning the city into a hostile environment for residents. Locals say that this insecurity is exploited to intimidate citizens and suppress organized protests, while militias loyal to the occupation continue internal power struggles over influence and positions.

Experts on Yemen warn that Aden’s current turmoil reflects the failure of the so-called local government to manage the occupied provinces. Despite the region’s vast resources, the administration has been unable to provide effective governance or development, while the occupation maintains a policy of systematic neglect to ensure continued political and economic dependency. Analysts suggest that the unrest in Aden may herald broader waves of popular dissent across other provinces if no concrete solutions are implemented.

Aden has long been a flashpoint under Saudi-Emirati occupation, where economic deprivation and security chaos converge to exacerbate civilian suffering. Chronic power outages, fuel scarcity, and rising living costs fuel public anger, while the lack of functioning governance and systemic corruption deepen the crisis. Observers view the protests as a warning sign that prolonged neglect and occupation policies may spark wider social instability in southern Yemen, particularly if structural reforms and humanitarian interventions are not prioritized.