Yemen's southern separatists have disbanded, STC member in Saudi Arabia says
Yemen's main southern separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), announced it was disbanding on Friday, according to a statement made by one of its members in Saudi Arabia, where some of its senior members are attending crucial talks.
Saudi state media aired footage of STC members at the Riyadh Southern Dialogue Conference announcing the dissolution of the council, citing recent military operations in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah that "harmed southern unity" and damaged relations with the Saudi-led coalition.
"We hereby announce the dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council, the disbanding of all its main and subsidiary bodies, and the closure of all its offices inside and outside the country," an STC member said, according to a transcript published by the Yemeni news agency SABA.
The member praised Saudi Arabia for hosting the talks, stating: "We commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its clear and explicit commitments and the sincere concern it has shown for our cause in seeking solutions that meet the aspirations and will of the southern people."
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman lauded the delegates' decision, calling it "brave" and said an upcoming conference will include all southern groups "without exclusion or discrimination."
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In a series of posts on X, he said the conference is part of efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen.
However, Mohamed Alsahimi, the STC's UK representative, denied to Middle East Eye that the council had been disbanded. He said the decision would require approval from the council and its leader, Aidrous al-Zubaidi, who has not participated in the talks and is reportedly in hiding after failing to board the plane to Riyadh earlier this week.
"This cannot be done under duress. This will be done when the STC delegation in Riyadh is released," Alsahimi said.
"We will engage constructively with all political initiatives to allow the south to determine its future."
Another STC spokesman, the Abu Dhabi-based Anwar al-Tamimi, described the Riyadh announcement as "ridiculous."
Zubaidi accused of 'high treason'
Last month, STC-aligned fighters swept through south and eastern Yemen, seizing cities, bases, ports, border crossings and oil infrastructure from Saudi-backed tribal forces loyal to the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Yemen's internationally recognised government.
The advance outraged the kingdom who on 30 December bombed an Emirati shipment in southern Yemen and criticised out the UAE’s role in backing the separatists.
The UAE said it was "surprised" by the Saudi strike, and lashed out at the kingdom for suggesting they were trying to "undermine" Riyadh's security.
Later, the UAE announced that it was withdrawing all of its military personnel from Yemen "in light of recent developments".
On Wednesday, the PLC, of which the STC is part of, stripped Zubaidi of his membership and accused him of "high treason".
Rashad al-Alimi, the chair of the PLC, said a formal investigation had been launched against Zubaidi and he had been referred to the prosecutor general.
The accusations levelled against Zubaidi include damaging Yemen's political and military standing, forming an armed group, committing serious violations against civilians, killing officers and soldiers, and sabotaging military facilities.
A number of other representatives in the PLC aligned with the separatists were also stripped of membership.
The STC has since seen its power evaporate in southern Yemen over the past week, even losing control of its erstwhile stronghold of Aden.
Saudi-backed forces entered the Aden governorate on Wednesday and the local Giants Brigades seized control of the city, pledging allegiance to the PLC and flying the national flag of Yemen on official buildings for the first time in years.
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