The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a major secessionist force in Yemen, has formally declared the commencement of a two-year transitional process aimed at achieving full independence for the nation’s southern regions. The landmark announcement was delivered by STC leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi in a primetime televised address on Friday, January 2nd, 2026.
This decisive move follows the STC’s military successes, wherein its forces have effectively seized and consolidated control over substantial territories across southern Yemen. The council’s strengthened position on the ground has provided the impetus for this political maneuver towards statehood.
“Guided by the overwhelming desire and sovereign will of our southern people to reclaim and proclaim their independent state, we hereby announce the beginning of a transitional phase set to last for two years,” stated al-Zubaidi, framing the decision as a direct response to the populace’s aspirations.
The proclamation signals a critical juncture in Yemen’s complex geopolitical landscape, potentially fracturing the country further and redrawing the map of a region already embroiled in a prolonged and devastating multi-party civil war. The STC’s roadmap challenges the existing framework of a unified Yemen and could significantly alter the dynamics of both the ongoing conflict and future diplomatic negotiations, presenting a new challenge to the internationally recognized government and other warring factions.