Aden (South24 Center)

Local authorities in a number of South Yemen governorates have announced their support for the measures taken by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Southern Armed Forces, underscoring the expanding institutional support for steps aimed at declaring the South Arabia State.

In Shabwa Governorate, the local authority said on Wednesday (December 24) that it supports the measures of the STC President, Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, and the Southern Forces, describing the restoration of the South State as a “political and historical entitlement.” 

This came following an expanded meeting chaired by the governor for the leadership of executive offices to discuss political and security developments.

The statement said that what it described as the failure and silence of Northern elites for ten years regarding the Houthi coup and their control over state institutions makes the option of restoring the South Arabia State an inevitable political and historical entitlement.

The local authority's position came a day after the Shabwa Tribes Alliance announced on Tuesday (December 23) its support for the STC's measures and its backing of the security operations carried out by the Southern Forces, including combating arms and drug smuggling, according to the statement.

Support continued to expand across South Yemen on Wednesday, as local authorities in Lahj Governorate announced their support for the measures taken by the Southern Transitional Council and the Southern Armed Forces toward declaring the independence of the South Arabia State. This followed similar announcements made earlier by local authorities in the Socotra Archipelago, Dhalea, Abyan, and Aden governorates in recent days.

At the governmental level, several ministries and official institutions issued similar statements over the past two days, including about 15 ministries, among them Transport, Electricity, Health, Sports, Agriculture, Information, Telecommunications, Civil Service, and others.

Support statements were also issued by institutions such as the Aden Free Zone, the University of Aden, and Aden International Airport.

In contrast, the President of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, criticized these positions, alleging on Tuesday that the STC pushed state institutions to issue statements supporting the “division of the country,” describing the STC’s measures and the movements of its forces in some governorates as representing a “rebellion against the state.” 

The Saba Agency, run by Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani, also published statements attributed to the Ministries of Justice, Sports, and others, rejecting the statements issued from Aden.

In a related development, protesters organized a sit-in today in front of Socotra International Airport to demand the resumption of flights, after they were halted since Tuesday evening, according to local sources, which led to the disruption of travel for dozens of passengers and tourists. The reasons for the suspension are not yet clear. 

PLC President Al-Alimi had previously threatened to cut off salaries to residents and the deterioration of services, while reacting to the measures by the STC and the Southern Armed Forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra. 

The suspension of Socotra airport flights came after its governor announced support for the Southern Transitional Council.

An informed source told South24 Center that the scope of institutional support for the Southern Transitional Council's measures is likely to expand to the rest of the governorates. Other ministries are also expected to join the same position.