SANAA // Authorities in southern Yemen have banned the sale of qat on working days, a plant whose leaves are chewed for a stimulant effect, a widespread tradition among Yemeni men.

Forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government also barred hundreds of qat-ferrying vehicles from entering Aden, and said they would allow qat chewing only on the weekend. They claimed traffic surrounding the busy and overcrowded qat markets obstructs normal life as well as security operations.

This restriction on qat consumption was applied in the formerly independent south Yemen, before it united with the north in the 1990s.

Checkpoints have been set up around Aden to stop qat shipments from entering the port city, as patrols roamed markets to enforce the ban on sales, the witnesses said.

Security forces said on Monday they had decided to “ban the sale of qat in Aden and its suburbs during the week”.

The statement said the ban was prompted by complaints from citizens and due to “security, social and health” concerns, adding that qat markets caused traffic jams.

Aden has served as the temporary capital of Yemen since forces loyal to Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, backed by an Arab coalition including the UAE, recaptured it and four other southern provinces from Houthi rebels in the summer.

Southern militias that fought alongside Mr Hadi’s loyalists have been mostly assimilated in security forces.

Chewing wads of the evergreen herb has a stimulant effect similar to drinking numerous cups of strong coffee, and it is part of the social fabric of Yemen.

In Aden, merchant Abdu Hazaa said security forces set fire to some of his qat stock but that he managed to smuggle the rest to the black market where it will be sold for a higher price.

*Associated Press and Agence France-Presse