Saudi Arabia demands Yemeni separatists leave seized governorates

Saudi Arabia has publicly demanded that Yemen’s largest southern separatist group renounce two of the country’s two eastern provinces, causing tensions to grow between the ruling coalition’s opposition to the Houthi rebels.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) took control of the oil-rich Hadramout and al-Mahra governorates earlier in December, according to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which issued the demand on Thursday.

The Foreign Ministry warned that “the kingdom emphasizes the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni factions and components to exercise restraint and to steer clear of any measures that could destabilize security and stability, which might have undesirable effects.”

The National Shield Forces are being guided by meditation efforts, according to Saudi Arabia, to allow the STC’s forces to “return to their previous positions outside of the two governorates and hand over the camps there.”

Riyadh expressed optimism that separatists would “recover in an urgent and orderly manner” to bring stability back.

In early December, the STC seized significant oil facilities, government buildings, and border crossings with little resistance, having previously received military and financial support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Additionally, the group seized control of Yemen’s temporary seat, the internationally renowned Aden presidential palace.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both backed the government in Yemen’s civil war against the Iran-aligned Houthis. The Presidential Leadership Council, a coalition that Saudi Arabia supports, includes the STC, which represents the nation.

Although the two Gulf powers sent a joint delegation to Aden on December 12 to reach a deal, negotiations have so far failed to lead to a resolution.

“Critical and Existential juncture”

Saudi Arabia and Hadramout have a 684-kilometer (425-mile) border, which is crucial to its national security, while Oman has concerns about al-Mahra on its frontier.

The STC deems the establishment of an independent southern state essential because both governorates are rich in important trade routes and energy resources.

South Yemen, which had been an independent nation since 1967 until 1990, was restored by the separatist group in 2017.

Although Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the country’s president, is seated on the presidential leadership council, he has increasingly acted independently of the government he is supposedly serving.

The STC expanded its operations to neighboring Abyan province and stated that its ultimate goal was to seize Sanaa from the Houthis. Al-Zubaidi recently stated to his supporters that “the south is at a critical and existential juncture” that requires work to “build the institutions of the future South Arabian state.”