A/HRC/21/37 Hirak movement in Southern Yemen3 and with other groups in the South to identify modalities of participation in the national dialogue. C. Security situation 11. Addressing the dire security situation in Yemen has been among the priorities of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism, which provided for the establishment of a military affairs committee for the realization of security and stability. The Military Affairs Committee is tasked with ending divisions within the armed forces, the settlement of all armed conflicts, ending all militarized structures, the withdrawal of all militia and other armed groups from the capital and other cities, the removal of all unlawful checkpoints and the reintegration of the armed forces into a unified, professional command structure. 12. On 6 April, President Hadi issued a series of decrees that involved new appointments and the transfer of senior civilian and military personnel to new positions. The transfers also concerned the commanders of the Air Force and the of 23rd Brigade of the Republican Guard, both relatives of former President Saleh, which triggered a crisis that lasted for several weeks, given that the commanders refused to transfer and relinquish their forces. The crisis was resolved following mediation by the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Yemen; by June, the new commanders were in their postings. The question of integrating and restructuring the armed and security forces remains. Divided loyalties, on both political and social grounds, were still rampant within the most powerful sectors of the army, and various security organs still had no clear institutional accountability and little judicial oversight. 13. The Military Affairs Committee, headed by the Minister for Defence, has in the meantime succeeded in removing most unauthorized checkpoints in the capital, as a means to unify security and restore law and order. Though visible checkpoints were mostly removed, forces loyal to the former President, the Republican Guard and Central Security Forces, and those loyal to the commander of the First Armoured Division, General Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, vied for influence in the city. 14. Significant progress was reported in Sanaa and Ta’izz, where the armed confrontations have come to an end. Heavy military equipment was no longer conspicuous, and roads were reopened, with only a few exceptions. Aden, however, has witnessed months of insecurity. After the near collapse of the security sector in Aden, the decision by President Hadi to mobilize navy officers to police the streets contributed to the restoration of some public order. 15. Instability continued in parts of the country. In the north, Houthis appear to have expanded their influence over remote areas, leading to further clashes against alleged Salafist groups. In the south, large areas in the governorates of Abyan, Shabwa and alBayda, which have been under the control of Ansar al-Sharia, an affiliate of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, were driven out of their strongholds between April and June by the Government and allied tribal paramilitary groups. The delegation is gravely concerned about information it received from credible sources about the use of armed drones in the 3 6 Since 2007, the al-Hirak al-Janubi (or Southern) movement has emerged as a trade union movement demanding the rehabilitation of army officers who were forcibly retired after the civil war of 1994. Over the years, al-Hirak has grown into a political movement calling for self-determination for South Yemen. Currently, there are three factions of al-Hirak, with political demands ranging from federalism and self-determination through to outright secession.