Yemen: Southern separatists take control of Socotra Island

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In Yemen, the southern separatists took control of Socotra, a strategic island under government control. It is one more step in the complex war that is taking place in Yemen.

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Socotra, off Aden, is a strategic island. Located not far from the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, it transits an important maritime trade, including that of oil. The separatists of the Southern Transition Council therefore took control of this island, to the detriment of the Yemeni government forces which denounced a "coup de force". 

The separatists had proclaimed their autonomy in southern Yemen at the end of April , further complicating the conflict in the country because the separatists are supposed to be allied with government forces in their fight against the Houthi rebels who detain northern Yemen.

In this war which started at the end of 2014, other actors intervened like Saudi Arabia which leads a coalition in support of the Yemeni government. Riyadh is regularly accused of killing civilians in its bombing of the Houthis.

The Yemeni population, it is exhausted. Trapped in fighting, suffering from malnutrition, she must now face the Covid-19 epidemic which also affects the country. 

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• Yemen