Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council Pushes for Separate State”
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Raven Ruma
- . September 23, 2023
- . Update: September 23, 2023 4:39 pm
The leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, recently spoke with The Associated Press and emphasized the importance of creating a separate nation while in talks with the Houthi rebels. Following major negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels, this announcement is made. Al-Zubaidi, who plays two roles in Yemen politics, is vying for a firmer stance on southern separatism, a subject that has been sidelined in previous talks aimed at resolving the country’s ongoing civil war.
Yemen’s Complex Political Landscape
Since the Houthi rebels captured the nation’s capital, Sanaa, and a sizable section of the north in 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a complex civil war. The crisis intensified after a coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015 to reinstate the internationally recognized government. Amid this unrest, a collection of heavily armed militias known as the Southern Transitional Council calls for the establishment of a breakaway nation in Yemen’s southern region.
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Al-Zubaida’s Stance and Goals
The creation of a southern sovereign state with borders dating back to 1990 was Aidarous al-Zubaidi’s main point in his speech. He argued that this objective is in line with both international law and the tenets of the United Nations. Al-Zubaidi emphasized that the Yemeni people will eventually decide through a referendum, and he provided options such as a single federal government.
The Role of Recent Talks and Saudi Mediation
An important milestone in the ongoing crisis was the recent discussions in Riyadh between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels. Al-Zubaidi praised both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for their support throughout the protracted conflict and praised Saudi Arabia’s mediation efforts. He did not specifically state whether the UAE had offered money or military assistance, though.
A war that is already complicated is made more complicated by the Southern Transitional Council of Yemen’s demand for a breakaway state. Finding a lasting solution that appeases the various groups continues to be a difficult problem as negotiations go on and various parties fight for their interests. A cautious and thorough approach to peacebuilding in Yemen is required because it is possible that the conflict’s dynamics will change.
