Yemen: Deadly drive-by shootings in Aden

Event

At least 25 clerics, preachers, and religious scholars have been killed in Aden and the southern provinces since 2016, with 15 of those killed within the past six months. On Wednesday, April 4, an imam died from wounds he sustained in a shooting the week prior.  Many of the slain clerics belonged to the Islah party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s branch in Yemen, and all were reportedly supporters of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s government, which currently operates mostly out of exile. No group has claimed responsibility for the killings.

On Tuesday, April 3, a joint statement was released by 12 political parties and movements denouncing the assassinations. The Ministry of Religious Endowment has stated that over 50 clerics have fled Yemen for fear of being killed. If the assassinations continue, clerics will reportedly be asked to stay home and stop going to mosques.

Context

Yemen is engaged in a complex and deadly conflict, ongoing since Houthi rebels entered into a civil war with the Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, in 2015. More than 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 2.5 million have been displaced.

Advice

The security environment in Yemen remains complex. Due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.