Yemen's Government Seizes Southern Areas from Separatist Group; Uncertainty Looms Over Future
In a move that has sent shockwaves across the region, Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, has taken control of southern areas previously held by the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC, which had been allied with the Saudi-backed government until recently, was dissolved on Friday after its leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, fled the country.
The STC's collapse marks a significant shift in Yemen's conflict, which has pitted the internationally recognized government against the Houthi rebel group, which controls much of the north. The STC had been a key player in the southern region, with its leader advocating for greater autonomy from the central government.
With the STC out of the picture, Saudi Arabia is now planning to host a conference of main political factions from the south to shape the future of Yemen. The conference aims to address long-standing grievances and find a solution to the conflict that has ravaged the country since 2015.
The move has been welcomed by many in southern Yemen, who have long felt marginalized by the central government. However, it also raises concerns about the future of the STC and its potential to re-emerge as a force in the region.
"We are seeing a lot of confusion and division among the southerners," said Yousef Mawry, a journalist based in Sanaa. "The big question is: Is there a common ground that al-Alimi's government and the Houthis can agree on?"
Al-Alimi, the head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), has vowed to restore state institutions in the south and has announced the formation of a Supreme Military Committee to prepare military forces for the next phase of the conflict.
The STC will find it hard to bounce back without military support from the UAE while many of its leaders have shown a willingness to participate in the Saudi-led dialogue. However, it is believed to still hold influence in the region.
The future of Yemen remains uncertain, with many experts warning that the conflict could shift from the south to the north and a showdown is expected between PLC forces and the Houthis.
"It's going to be a long and difficult road," said Abdulaziz Alghashian, an adjunct professor at Naif Arab University. "The legacy of the STC has now become just too poisonous. I think there is probably no goodwill for the STC to be part of a genuine political process."
As the situation in Yemen continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the country's future will depend on finding a solution that addresses the long-standing grievances and divisions that have fueled the conflict.
The conference hosted by Saudi Arabia aims to provide a platform for discussion and dialogue. However, the question remains whether it can help to address the underlying issues that have driven the conflict in Yemen for so long.
In the meantime, thousands of STC supporters poured onto the streets of Aden, the capital of anti-Houthi forces in southern Yemen, in a show of solidarity with the group.
The move has been welcomed by many in southern Yemen, who feel that their voices have finally been heard. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for further instability and violence.
As the situation in Yemen continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the country's future will depend on finding a solution that addresses the long-standing grievances and divisions that have fueled the conflict.
In a move that has sent shockwaves across the region, Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, has taken control of southern areas previously held by the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC, which had been allied with the Saudi-backed government until recently, was dissolved on Friday after its leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, fled the country.
The STC's collapse marks a significant shift in Yemen's conflict, which has pitted the internationally recognized government against the Houthi rebel group, which controls much of the north. The STC had been a key player in the southern region, with its leader advocating for greater autonomy from the central government.
With the STC out of the picture, Saudi Arabia is now planning to host a conference of main political factions from the south to shape the future of Yemen. The conference aims to address long-standing grievances and find a solution to the conflict that has ravaged the country since 2015.
The move has been welcomed by many in southern Yemen, who have long felt marginalized by the central government. However, it also raises concerns about the future of the STC and its potential to re-emerge as a force in the region.
"We are seeing a lot of confusion and division among the southerners," said Yousef Mawry, a journalist based in Sanaa. "The big question is: Is there a common ground that al-Alimi's government and the Houthis can agree on?"
Al-Alimi, the head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), has vowed to restore state institutions in the south and has announced the formation of a Supreme Military Committee to prepare military forces for the next phase of the conflict.
The STC will find it hard to bounce back without military support from the UAE while many of its leaders have shown a willingness to participate in the Saudi-led dialogue. However, it is believed to still hold influence in the region.
The future of Yemen remains uncertain, with many experts warning that the conflict could shift from the south to the north and a showdown is expected between PLC forces and the Houthis.
"It's going to be a long and difficult road," said Abdulaziz Alghashian, an adjunct professor at Naif Arab University. "The legacy of the STC has now become just too poisonous. I think there is probably no goodwill for the STC to be part of a genuine political process."
As the situation in Yemen continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the country's future will depend on finding a solution that addresses the long-standing grievances and divisions that have fueled the conflict.
The conference hosted by Saudi Arabia aims to provide a platform for discussion and dialogue. However, the question remains whether it can help to address the underlying issues that have driven the conflict in Yemen for so long.
In the meantime, thousands of STC supporters poured onto the streets of Aden, the capital of anti-Houthi forces in southern Yemen, in a show of solidarity with the group.
The move has been welcomed by many in southern Yemen, who feel that their voices have finally been heard. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for further instability and violence.
As the situation in Yemen continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the country's future will depend on finding a solution that addresses the long-standing grievances and divisions that have fueled the conflict.
I'm worried about what this means for the people of southern Yemen... all their voices have been heard now 
but at what cost? It feels like they're being pulled into a bigger game without much control over their own future 
. Saudi Arabia's hosting a conference, which sounds good on paper, but how will it really address the root causes of the conflict? 
It's like we're waiting for the other shoe to drop... what's going to happen next? 
the southerners have been marginalized for so long, it's gonna take more than just a meeting to fix all that 
we need real change, not just empty promises from the PLC. they should be focusing on rebuilding infrastructure and providing basic services instead of trying to control the narrative 
but what really got me thinking is how they're gonna structure this conference and who's actually gonna be at the table 
its gotta be super well planned or else it'll just be another mess 
like, have you seen the layout of some of these news sites? so sloppy and hard to read 
. The thought of a whole region being taken away from someone just because of politics is heartbreaking 
I hope this conference in Saudi Arabia can bring some sense of unity and peace to the country. But at the same time, I'm worried about what might happen if things don't work out 
. The people of Yemen deserve so much better than to be caught up in all this conflict and violence 
. Can we please just imagine a world where everyone can live in harmony and happiness? 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out. But honestly, I'm a bit skeptical - it feels like just another layer of the same old conflict 
. It's like, what's gonna happen to them? Are they just gonna fade away or try to come back stronger? 
... it's been going on for so long now, and it's hard to imagine what the country would look like if everything just magically got resolved 
.
... maybe that's a sign that there's still some common ground between them and the government? But until we see real progress, I'll just be over here waiting with bated breath 
. And what about the Houthis? Are they just gonna sit there and let the south get what it wants? I don't think so 
Yemen Map]
or will the conflict shift from south to north? 
but let's be real, history is full of attempts at reconciliation that end in more conflict 
️ there are too many factions & interests at play 
maybe we can finally get to the bottom of what's been driving this conflict all these years 
and i'm still confused about what's going on with the UAE's involvement in all of this... are we gonna see some major power shifts in the region? 
how this change of power might affect the balance of force in southern Yemen... think it could be some heavy negotiations for al-Alimi and the Houthis to figure out a common ground, or it might lead to more division among southerners... we'll just have to wait and see 
. It's like they're just biding their time, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The conference might provide a temporary distraction, but ultimately, it's not going to solve anything if the underlying issues aren't addressed.
... I mean, how can we trust that the PLC and Houthis will even be able to talk to each other after everything that's happened?
. It's like the country can't even decide on a stable government anymore 
but how much of it is real? The STC just got dissolved like that and now everyone's all about this Saudi-led conference 