Saudi-led talks to include Yemeni separatist representatives

Yemeni Government Completes Handover of Military Sites in Hadramout and al-Mahra Governorates

The Yemeni government has completed the handover of all military sites in Hadramout and al-Mahra governorates, which were previously under control of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, is expected to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia for a peace forum. This development comes after recent days of fighting between government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and STC troops.

The STC has withdrawn from the city of Mukalla, which was bombed by coalition forces last week. Civilian life has started to return to normal in the city, with shops reopening and traffic gradually resuming. The STC had taken control of Hadramout and al-Mahra in early December, sparking tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

The Yemeni government has asked Saudi Arabia to host talks with separatists, which the STC has welcomed. However, the timing and details of the talks remain unclear. At least 80 STC fighters have been killed, while another 152 were wounded and 130 taken captive. Skirmishes broke out in Hadramout after the STC accused Saudi Arabia of bombing its forces near the border.

The STC has announced a two-year transitional period towards declaring an independent state, warning it would declare independence “immediately” if there was no dialogue or if southern Yemen again came under attack. The Yemeni government has defended its military actions, saying they were aimed at reclaiming bases peacefully and systematically. The government has also accused the STC of preventing civilian travellers from entering Aden.

The crisis in Yemen has continued to affect relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has called for a peace forum, while Abu Dhabi announced that all Emirati forces would withdraw from Yemen.

Source: Al Jazeera