Listen to the article
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Yemen’s southern city of Aden on Saturday to show support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist group that had officially dissolved itself just a day earlier following clashes with government forces.
The protest, held in the STC stronghold of Khor Maksar district near Aden’s international airport, saw participants chanting anti-Saudi and anti-government slogans while waving flags of southern Yemen, which existed as an independent state from 1967 to 1990. Armed groups loyal to the STC secured the area as protesters displayed posters of council leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who reportedly fled to the United Arab Emirates earlier this month.
“We will remain in the squares until the restoration of the state of South Arabia,” said protester Fadl Mahomed, referring to the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. Organizers issued a statement rejecting the STC’s dissolution and reiterating calls for southern independence.
The protests highlight the complex political dynamics in Yemen’s ongoing civil war, which has seen a deteriorating relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two key U.S. allies whose partnership in the Yemen conflict has fractured in recent months.
Formed in April 2017, the STC served as an umbrella organization for southern separatist groups and received substantial financial and military backing from the UAE. The council’s secretary-general, Abdulrahman Jalal al-Sebaihi, announced on Friday that the STC would shut down all operations inside and outside Yemen, citing internal disagreements and regional pressure.
However, the decision was immediately contested by STC spokesman Anwar al-Tamimi, who claimed that only the full council under al-Zubaidi’s leadership had the authority to make such a move—revealing significant divisions within the separatist movement.
Al-Zubaidi, who also served as a member of Yemen’s Presidential Transitional Council, reportedly declined to attend de-escalation talks in Riyadh and was smuggled to Abu Dhabi through Somalia, according to Saudi sources. An STC delegation that did attend the talks subsequently announced the group’s dissolution.
Former Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi, now an adviser to the chairman of the presidential council, declared on Saturday that “the page of the transitional council has been turned,” citing the group’s “mistakes, corruption, arrogance and its use of force against the state and people of the south.” He called for dialogue to integrate those not involved in crimes into military and security agencies.
Tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi escalated dramatically last month when UAE-backed forces seized control of strategic areas, including the oil-rich provinces of Hadramout along the Saudi border and Mahra, as well as the presidential palace in Aden. Following Saudi-led de-escalation efforts, government forces backed by Saudi Arabia managed to reclaim Hadramout, the presidential palace, and military facilities in Mahra from the separatists.
This recent power struggle represents yet another complication in Yemen’s protracted civil war, which began in 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee southward before eventually seeking exile in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition, which initially included the UAE, entered the conflict in 2015 to restore the government. In recent years, the war has reached a stalemate, with the Houthis striking a deal with Saudi Arabia to halt attacks on the kingdom in exchange for an end to Saudi-led airstrikes on their territories.
Yemen’s strategic location at the southern entrance of the Red Sea has made the conflict a focal point of regional power struggles, with its people caught in a complex web of sectarian and tribal grievances amplified by the involvement of external powers. The current tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE threaten to further complicate efforts to resolve the conflict, which has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
12 Comments
The rally in support of the STC separatist group highlights the complex and fragmented nature of the Yemeni conflict. It will be crucial for all parties to find a path towards stability and peace.
The involvement of the UAE in backing the STC adds an additional layer of geopolitical tension to the situation in Yemen. Navigating these regional dynamics will be critical for any lasting resolution.
This protest showcases the lingering tensions and desire for autonomy in southern Yemen, despite the STC’s recent dissolution. The region’s political dynamics continue to be a source of instability.
The ability of the STC to mobilize supporters in Aden suggests their influence remains strong, even as they have formally dissolved. This will be a key dynamic to monitor going forward.
The rally in Aden demonstrates the continued appetite for southern Yemeni independence, even as the STC has officially dissolved itself. The situation remains fluid and politically charged.
The involvement of the UAE in supporting the STC adds another layer of complexity to the Yemeni conflict. It will be interesting to see how regional powers shape the trajectory of this dispute.
Interesting to see the UAE-backed separatist group in Yemen still garnering public support despite their recent dissolution. The complex political dynamics in the region continue to evolve.
This protest highlights the deep divisions in Yemen that have fueled the ongoing civil war. It will be crucial to see how the different factions navigate the path forward.
This protest by STC supporters underscores the enduring divisions and desire for autonomy in southern Yemen, despite the group’s recent dissolution. The Yemeni civil war remains a complex and multifaceted conflict.
The ability of the STC to mobilize this demonstration shows their continued influence, even after officially dissolving themselves. This will be an important factor as the situation in Yemen continues to evolve.
The rally in Aden is a reminder of the deep-seated regional tensions that have fueled the Yemeni civil war. The involvement of external actors like the UAE adds another layer of complexity to this protracted conflict.
It will be crucial for all parties to find a path towards reconciliation and a sustainable political solution that addresses the aspirations of various factions in Yemen.