Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
From his residence in Abu Dhabi, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the head of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC), declared his adherence to the project of southern Yemen’s secession. This new political stance comes after his flight from Aden and the loss of his UAE-backed forces in the recent confrontations he instigated in the Hadramawt and Al-Mahra governorates.
In a speech, al-Zubaidi attempted to present himself as a representative of the southern street’s will. He claimed that the “Million-Person March,” a demonstration that took place on Thursday in Aden, represents the source of true legitimacy, and that “the voice of the southern people can no longer be ignored.” This rhetoric reflects a clear break with the transitional authorities’ frameworks and Riyadh’s calls for a “Southern-Southern” dialogue.
Al-Zubaidi alleged that the south has entered “a new phase characterized by unity of ranks and the imposition of popular will regionally and internationally.” He affirmed the continuation of what he termed “fulfilling the sacrifices of the martyrs” until achieving what he described as the national goal—a clear reference to the secession project—despite the political and military shifts that have eroded the STC’s influence on the ground.
This escalation comes at a time when the Presidential Leadership Council had announced referring al-Zubaidi to the judiciary on charges of “high treason,” along with his removal from the Council’s membership. This was part of a package of measures that also included the dismissal of Major General Faraj Salmin al-Bahsani, the STC’s vice-president and a member of the Presidential Leadership Council—a development described as the most serious since the Council’s formation.
The Yemeni authority justified these decisions by accusing al-Zubaidi and STC leaders of staging a coup against the transitional authorities, undermining partnership within the Presidential Leadership Council, and seeking to impose a unilateral project outside the framework of the state, thereby threatening the country’s unity and security.
In an escalatory move, the STC had earlier announced a so-called “constitutional declaration,” claiming it would establish a new political phase in the south, bypassing the constitutional and legal framework of the Yemeni Republic. This was met with widespread rejection from the government and the Presidential Leadership Council, alongside regional and international warnings about the repercussions of this step on the fragile peace process.
Against this backdrop, an official decision was issued to dissolve the Southern Transitional Council, stripping it of any legal or political status and declaring all its decisions and actions null and void. Security and military agencies were directed to implement these decisions. Meanwhile, al-Zubaidi continues to issue his stances from outside the country, distant from the on-the-ground and political realities in southern Yemen.
