SANAA, (Yemen) \u2014 Yemen’s exiled vice president has returned to country’s war-torn city of Aden, two weeks after forces loyal to Yemen\u2019s President Hadi recaptured Aden.<\/p>\n
Yemeni VP Khaled Bahahh, who is also prime minister, landed in Aden with six government ministers today, according to Aden\u2019s airport chief, Tarek Abdu Ali.<\/p>\n
He returned to the country months after a Saudi-led airstrike campaign began against Shiite Houthi rebels there, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Bahah became the highest ranking official to return to the southern city since the government announced its liberation in mid-July.\u00a0The visit has been termed as symbolic gesture, signalling hopes for a new and confident Yemen.<\/p>\n
The Vice President noted:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMy visit to Aden should not come as a surprise. The city needs facilities to engage in politics.\u201d He further stressed, his visit is \u201cpart of the liberation of Aden and part of the normalization of life in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nHe flew to Saudi Arabia, where the Yemeni government had been based since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi fled a Houthi advance on Aden in March 2015.\u00a0Since then, hundreds have been killed in violent clashes between pro-Hadi fighters, supported by air strikes from a Saudi-led Arab alliance, and the Houthis, who have struck an alliance with supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.<\/p>\n
Yemen Crisis 2015 – at a glance<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The spokesman of the Yemeni government in exile, Rageh Badie, said Bahah’s visit aimed at normalizing life in Aden. He said Bahah was briefed about the situation and the functioning of local government agencies, and added that the government is working to restore services.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, military and government-aligned militias have gained control of the strategic southern city of Zanjibar, security officials and eyewitnesses said.<\/p>\n
Is Yemeni VP’s visit\u00a0a first ray of hope\u00a0toward building new Yemen?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Yemeni Vice President\u2019s Aden visit is being termed as a first ray of hope by some experts. Andrew Bowen, a Senior Fellow and the Director of Middle East Studies at the Center for the National Interest, writes<\/a><\/span>:<\/p>\n
Bahah\u2019s visit was an attempt by President Hadi to build public support and confidence in the government\u2019s efforts to construct an alternative future for Yemen other than the one presented by the Houthis.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n