Yemeni Southern Separatists Announce Disputed Disbandment of STC in Riyadh

Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council Announces Dissolution

The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a Yemeni separatist group backed by Saudi Arabia, has announced its dissolution following talks in Saudi Arabia. According to Abdulrahman Jalal al-Subaihi, the STC Secretary-General, the decision was made to preserve peace and security in the south and neighboring countries.

In a broadcast on Yemeni television, al-Subaihi praised the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the solutions it has provided for the people of the South. However, STC spokesman Anwar al-Tamimi rejected the announcement, calling it “ridiculous.”

The announcement comes amid growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with which the STC is also affiliated. The STC launched an offensive against Yemeni government troops in December, prompting a response from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

The STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi had fled to the UAE via Somaliland after skipping talks in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition. This development has led to a deep rift between former allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The possible dissolution of the STC is a significant political development, although not unexpected given the group’s recent actions. The STC’s military offensive last month was seen as a “massive miscalculation” by some analysts, who viewed it as a threat to national security. In response, the Yemeni government declared a state of emergency and ordered the withdrawal of all UAE forces.

The situation remains fluid, with the STC’s future uncertain. The announcement of its dissolution has sparked mixed reactions from various parties involved.

Source: Al Jazeera