Public Prosecutor Orders Freeze on Southern Transitional Council Assets

Public Prosecutor Qahir Mustafa has issued an order for the precautionary seizure of all funds and bank accounts belonging to the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC). The order, directed at banks, financial institutions, exchange companies, and exchange offices, is intended to protect public funds, combat corruption and money laundering, and enable the government to access its domestic and sovereign resources.

Sources indicated that the judicial order prohibits any disposal, transfer, withdrawal, or any other legal or physical action concerning the assets under seizure, pending further directives from the Public Prosecution or relevant judicial authorities. The Yemeni Central Bank, along with all other financial entities, has been mandated to comply immediately and report any accounts, balances, or funds pertaining to the STC to the Public Prosecution.

The Public Prosecution stated that the decision is based on sufficient evidence and indicators suggesting a potential link between these funds and accounts and ongoing investigations. It emphasized that precautionary seizure is a temporary legal measure designed to safeguard public funds and ensure the integrity of judicial proceedings until a final ruling is made.

This development follows a government call to the United Nations Security Council to update its sanctions list to include all individuals and entities proven to be involved in undermining state institutions, obstructing the political process, or imposing unilateral measures by force. The government affirmed its readiness to provide the UN and the sanctions committee with any supporting information or documentation.

Yemen's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abdullah Al-Saadi, had previously informed the Security Council that Yemeni authorities had taken measures, in accordance with the constitution and law, against several individuals implicated in acts of rebellion, corruption, and gross human rights violations, notably the head of the dissolved STC, Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, who is accused of high treason. The government has urged the Security Council to enforce its resolutions against all individuals and entities proven to be involved in undermining the political process or threatening peace, security, and stability in Yemen.