Yemen Monitor / Seiyun / Exclusive:
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the districts of Hadramawt Valley and Desert announced on Saturday evening the establishment of an open-ended sit-in camp in the city of Seiyun (the center of Hadramawt Valley), starting from dawn on Sunday. This escalatory step aims to pressure for control over the remaining districts of the Valley and to demand the STC leadership declare secession.
In a video statement reviewed by Yemen Monitor, Mohammed Abdulmalik Al-Zubaidi, the Assistant Executive Head of the STC for Affairs of Hadramawt Valley and Desert Districts, stated that the camp will be set up on ” Sixty Street” in Seiyun city and will operate continuously, 24 hours a day.
The STC official explained that this step comes to fulfill what he termed “completing the aspirations of the people of the South in general and Hadramawt in particular.” He outlined the sit-in’s objectives as demanding the STC’s political leadership, represented by Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, to “declare the State of South Arabia,” in addition to demanding the departure of forces not affiliated with the STC.
Al-Zubaidi concluded by saying that secession would be declared soon by “implementing the demands of the people of Hadramawt.” The STC often claims that secession is a societal demand, at a time when local tribes and communities are fighting to impose its project.
This announcement comes amid a state of ongoing tension and political turmoil in the oil-rich Hadramawt Valley and Desert districts. It follows days of UAE-backed STC forces seizing control of most of Hadramawt Valley, committing severe violations, and continuing looting and plundering of homes for the third consecutive day.
