Yemen president in surprise visit to Aden

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi flew into Aden from his base in neighbouring Saudi Arabia Saturday on a surprise visit to the headquarters of his beleaguered government, an aide said.

Hadi is expected to stay for a few days in the southern port city, which is still prey to frequent unrest 18 months after his loyalists drove out Iran-backed rebels with the support of a Saudi-led coalition.

It is the president’s first visit to Aden in a year and comes two months after Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher and seven ministers set up base in the city.

The government had previously operated from exile since October 2015.

The capital Sanaa, like most of the north of the country, remains in the hands of the rebel and their allies.

Hadi’s authority is largely confined to the south and areas along the Saudi border.

Even within the south, his loyalists have faced repeated attack by jihadists of both Al-Qaeda and its rival, the Islamic State group. Security chiefs in Aden have been a particular target.