Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), a secessionist faction with backing from the United Arab Emirates, has declared plans to conduct a referendum on independence within two years, escalating tensions with Saudi Arabia and its allied Yemeni government forces. The announcement comes amid intensified military confrontations that have exposed deepening fractures between the Gulf powerhouses.
STC President Aidaros Alzubidi proclaimed the commencement of a transitional period in a televised address Friday, urging international mediation for north-south dialogue while threatening immediate independence declaration if southern territories face further military aggression. “This constitutional declaration shall be considered immediately and directly effective if the people of the south, their land, or their forces are subjected to any military attacks,” Alzubidi warned.
The political maneuver coincides with lethal battlefield exchanges across southern Yemen. Saudi airstrikes targeted STC positions in Hadhramaut province Friday, resulting in 29 separatist fatalities according to STC officials. These operations supported government-aligned National Shield forces attempting to reclaim territory lost to the separatists in December.
The conflict reveals deteriorating Saudi-Emirati coordination in Yemen, where both nations initially intervened against Houthi rebels a decade ago. Recent divergences extend beyond Yemen to include contrasting approaches toward Israel’s Gaza operations and Syrian normalization efforts. Notably, the UAE abstained from condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland independence—another breakaway region with Abu Dhabi ties—potentially establishing precedent for the STC’s self-determination push.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government, backed by Riyadh, maintains opposition to southern secession. Hadhramaut Governor Salem al-Khanbashi echoed calls for peaceful dialogue Friday, stating: “We renew the emphasis on the justice of the southern cause, while rejecting the path of military control and confrontation.” The STC nevertheless asserts their constitutional declaration aligns with international law, as spokesperson Anwar al-Tamimi emphasized to Al Jazeera.