Aden in Yemen, illustration.
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NEW CHINA / SIPA
At least two explosions occurred at Aden airport on Wednesday when a plane carrying the new unity government arrived in the provisional capital of warring Yemen, an AFP correspondent noted.
At least two explosions erupted, he said, when the plane landed and officials started exiting the plane.
A security source told AFP several wounded, but none among the ministers present.
A unity government in a country in conflict
In a poor country devastated by conflict, the new Yemeni unity government of pro-power ministers and southern separatists was formed on December 18 under the aegis of Saudi Arabia.
The war in Yemen has plunged this country, the poorest of the Arabian Peninsula, in the worst humanitarian crisis in the world according to the UN, with a population on the brink of famine and threatened by epidemics #AFP pic.twitter.com/ HbjwYGnk1a
- Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) December 30, 2020
These two camps, which competed for power in the South, have remained in principle allies for six years against the Houthi rebels, supported by Iran and who have seized a large part of the north of the country, including the capital Sana'a.
Deep divisions in the anti-Houthi camp had erupted in recent years between government supporters and southern separatists, who accuse them of corruption and connivance with Islamists.
Saudi Arabia brokered a power-sharing deal in the South and had been trying for more than a year to form a new unity government to keep the coalition united against the oncoming Houthis. Marib, the last stronghold of government in the North.
The war in Yemen has plunged this country, the poorest in the Arabian Peninsula, into the worst humanitarian crisis in the world according to the UN, with a population on the brink of famine and threatened by epidemics.
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