ISTANBUL 

Yemen’s presidency on Sunday urged the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to immediately lift restrictions on movement to and from Aden, the country’s temporary capital in the south.

In a statement received by the state-run Saba news agency, a source at the Presidential Office said the STC restrictions constitute “a blatant violation of the constitution and a clear breach of the transitional framework, foremost among them the Riyadh Agreement,” which stipulates full citizenship rights for all Yemenis and rejects regional discrimination.

The statement warned that imposing restrictions on the freedom of movement and detaining travelers violates national laws and relevant international human rights conventions, undermines social peace, and exacerbates humanitarian suffering.

Calling on the STC to end the restrictions “immediately and unconditionally,” the source urged respect for the mandates of state institutions, warning against unilateral measures that harm public interests or challenge the state’s exclusive authority.

Yemen has seen an unprecedented escalation since Tuesday, after the STC forces took control of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra in early December. The two provinces account for nearly half of Yemen’s territory and share borders with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of “pushing STC forces to carry out military operations” along the kingdom’s southern border in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. Abu Dhabi denied the accusation.

The STC says successive Yemeni governments have marginalized southern regions politically and economically and calls for secession. Yemeni authorities reject the claim and reaffirm their commitment to the country’s unity.