Yemen’s STC announces self-determination process for south: What to know
The announcement by the UAE-backed separatist group follows major escalations with Saudi Arabia and the internationally-recognized government.
Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council announced on Friday the start of a “transitional phase” aimed at ultimately achieving independence, a major escalation in the group’s efforts toward forming a breakaway state.
What happened: STC chairman Aidarus al-Zoubaidi declared in an address from Aden the start of a two-year phase of dialogue between the relevant parties in northern and southern Yemen regarding the “paths and mechanisms that guarantee the right of the people of the south." The leader called for a popular referendum on “the right of self-determination for the people of the south.”
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— AIC English (@aicadenen) January 2, 2026
The Southern Transitional Council President @AidrosAlzubidi announces the launch of a two-year transitional phase in South Yemen, culminating in a referendum on Southern self-determination #دوله_الجنوب_العربي #south_arabia #UN pic.twitter.com/EExUE6fBeK
The STC published a constitutional declaration following Zoubaidi’s speech that called for a State of South Arabia with its capital, Aden, based on the borders of the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.
The republic, more commonly known as South Yemen, was independent from 1967 to 1990 when it unified with the rest of present-day Yemen.
The Aden-based STC, which supports independence for the south, launched an offensive against the government last month, capturing large swaths of the Hadramout province. The STC is supported by the United Arab Emirates while the government is backed by Saudi Arabia.
The Yemeni government did not immediately comment on Zoubaidi’s announcement.
Why it matters: The declaration follows an explosion of tensions in Yemen over the STC’s aspirations as well as between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Saudi-led military coalition conducted airstrikes on STC positions in the al-Khashaa area of Hadramout earlier on Friday. The strikes coincided with clashes between the pro-government National Shield Forces and the STC in the area.
The Saudi-backed governor of the province, Salem al-Khanbashi, announced plans on Friday to take control of STC sites “peacefully and in an organized manner.”
On Thursday, authorities affiliated with the STC ordered a shutdown of traffic at Aden’s airport in response to government restrictions on flights to and from the UAE.
Saudi Arabia has upped its support of the embattled government since the STC’s Hadramout offensive. The coalition the kingdom leads carried out airstrikes on the al-Mukalla port last Tuesday, saying the action targeted vehicles and weapons from the UAE destined for STC forces. The UAE denied the accusation in a statement, saying the shipment consisted of vehicles for their own forces and did not include arms.
The same day, the UAE said it would withdraw its counterterrorism forces from Yemen. That announcement followed the strike on al-Mukalla and Saudi Arabia accusing the UAE of backing an offensive on its border with Yemen, in reference to the STC’s moves in Hadramout.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen was formed in 2015 to fight the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war involving the government, the STC, the Houthis, the local al-Qaeda affiliate and other groups since 2014. The UAE was originally part of the coalition but announced the completion of its Yemen mission in 2019, leaving behind only “specialized personnel” focused on counterterrorism, according to the Emirati Defense Ministry.
