Yemeni Presidential Council Member Al-Zubaidi: Southern Secession is Another Path to Defeating the Houthis
Yemen Monitor / New York / Exclusive:
In a notable statement that reflects the deep divergence within Yemen’s legitimate authority, Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), proposed the secession of South Yemen as an alternative to restoring a unified Yemeni state and containing the Houthis in the country’s northern regions.
The American agency Bloomberg reported that Al-Zubaidi discussed the matter in a press interview in his capacity as a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council. He is also the head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is backed by the UAE and seeks southern secession.
Al-Zubaidi stated that militarily defeating the Houthis could take six to twelve months, provided that military and logistical support is received from the US, the UK, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
He added that the other option for defeating the Houthis is to pursue South Yemen’s independence while containing the organization in the North.
Al-Zubaidi’s statement places the secessionist agenda at the forefront of priorities instead of fighting the Houthis, presenting it as a practical and direct solution to end the state of instability and conflict with the Houthis, rather than engaging in a comprehensive war that he believes would be prolonged.
This reflects an emphasis on the political direction of the STC, which effectively controls Aden and large areas in the South, despite its participation in the internationally recognized government’s leadership.
This statement comes at a time when disagreements within the PLC are exerting pressure on decisions of war and peace, and even on the management of its internal affairs.
