On Monday in Aden, members from the NDC's Development Working Group met with officials and representatives of executive offices, districts, Aden University and the Aden Free Trade Zone.

The group members were given detailed accounts of the performance of various institutions and the challenges which face investment projects. A common theme was the importance of taking further advantage of Aden’s economic potential.

A special focus was placed on unemployment in Aden governorate. The NDC members listened as it was described to them how many qualified Adeni citizens are deprived of jobs since people there are often hired on the basis of ‘random’ decisions and not through the civil service office.

Separately, a team of members from the Army and Security Working Group were given an overview of the performance and responsibilities of Aden’s Fourth Military Zone.

During one meeting, Zone Commander Muhmoud Al-Subaihi provided an explanation of the security situations in Aden, Lahj, Abyn and Taiz.

Military Zone Chief of Staff Saleh Ali Hassan briefed the team on the positions of the zone’s forces, as well as units in Abyan in Yemen’s east to Taiz and Lahj in the north.

For his part, NDC team leader Nasser Al-Tawil briefed military, security and marine commanders and other officials on the aims of their visit.

"All NDC working groups should emerge with outcomes which will help to solve the southern issue," he said.

Members of the teams then discussed proposals for constructing a national army with military commanders before asking them for their own vision of how such a task should be carried out.