The recent unlawful detention of Yemeni human rights investigators by UAE-backed forces has drawn sharp criticism from Human Rights Watch (HRW). Members of Yemen’s National Commission for the Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) were detained by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) while inspecting an unofficial detention center in Socotra. HRW revealed the investigators were held for three hours and faced threats against returning to the facility. The center has been described by a member of the Commission as “among the worst” they have seen.
Investigations into these secretive detention facilities, operated by the United Arab Emirates and its aligned forces, have been documented by multiple organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the Associated Press. The Southern Transitional Council, originating in 2017, has been a key player in the complex Yemeni conflict, advocating for a separate South Yemen state.
In response to the ongoing human rights concerns, President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi recently directed the closure of such unofficial detention facilities, labeled as unlawful. The President’s administration aims to reinstate state authority and uphold human rights by relocating detainees to legal institutions or releasing those without lawful charges. This directive follows internal strife within the STC and its subsequent announcement of dissolution after conflicts with other factions and Saudi-backed forces.
Amnesty International had previously censured the STC for its aggressive clampdown on civic activities, highlighting that restrictions on non-aligned organizations increased under the Council’s watch. The political environment has, according to reports, led to self-censorship among activists and organizations working within Yemen.