Aden (South24)

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President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidrous AlـZubaidi has conducted a field tour of five governorates in South Yemen since early March 2025, in a move seen as aiming to enhance the STC’s political presence and increase the level of coordination with local authorities.

The STC President also inaugurated a number of developmental and service projects in these areas.

AlـZubaidi started his tour in Abyan on March 6 where he conducted an extensive meeting in Zinjibar with local and military leaders as well as with the STC’s representatives in the governorate.

In a speech, he stressed that the STC will continue supporting counterterrorism efforts, and added that the latest Houthi military escalation is considered a “political and military suicide”.

He reiterated the need to maintain the unity of the Southern ranks to confront security and political challenges, and praised the role of Abyan in protecting security and stability.

On March 7, AlـZubaidi moved to Lahij where he met local and military leaders in AlـHouta. He spoke about the deteriorating economic and service conditions and the need to reform the local management system there, in addition to monitoring the performance of officials to ensure the provision of basic services.

The STC chief directed his accompanying ministers to pay special attention to Lahij in the fields of electricity, transportation, and civic amenities. According to him, this governorate constitutes a strategic depth for Aden and further development of its infrastructure is required.

On March 8, AlـZubaidi visited AlـDhalea where he met local and military leaders, and hailed the governorate’s historic role in resisting the Houthis. He stressed in his speech that AlـDhalea has always been “the first defensive line for South Yemen”. He called for combining efforts to improve the livelihood and service conditions in light of the scarcity of resources.

On March 10, AlـZubaidi returned to the capital, Aden, where he conducted an extensive meeting, including with local, military, and security leaders. He reiterated the STC’s commitment to enhance development in the capital, and stressed the importance of joint work and combating corruption to restore Aden’s economic standing.

He pointed to the need to work according to a strategic plan aimed at restoring the economic and development role of the economic and sovereign institutions in Aden. This includes operating the refineries, developing the ports, boosting the fishery sectors, and implementing sustainable projects in the electricity sector, such as expanding the solar power plant with support from the UAE.

On March 11 and 12, AlـZubaidi moved to Shabwa where he was received with a warm welcome in the city of Ataq. During his visit, he officially inaugurated work in the Shabwa Airport after a hiatus of 10 years. He said that operating the airport will help enhance the aerial link between the governorate and other areas. He underscored the need to give Shabwa economic and administrative independence as well as establish its own oil company and boost its role in managing its local resources away from centralization.

He also visited the UAE-funded solar power plant and the Public Shabwa Hospital, and commended the Emirati development plans in the health sector. He announced plans for developing the Shabwa Port as part of efforts to boost the economic activities in the governorate.

On March 13, he visited AlـMahra, including the city of AlـGhaydah where he met Governor Mohammed Ali Yasser and the STC leaders. During the visit, he inaugurated a number of service projects, including the water network in the city of Shahan (the second stage) and the UNـfunded health isolation centers in AlـGhaydah and Shahan.

Al-Zubaidi inaugurated a project to expand the ring road in AlـGhayda and another one to rebuild Al-Ghaydah Central Hospital in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

He stressed the STC’s support to AlـMahra and the need to improve services in the governorate that enjoys a strategic location on the borders with Oman.

Observers said that the tour reflects the STC’s efforts to enhance its influence in South Yemen’s governorates and strengthen the relationship with local authorities in light of the political and economic challenges facing the country. Some believe that the tour paves the way for a more stable political future in South Yemen, especially with AlـZubaidi’s confirmation that the next phase will witness “decisive strategic decisions”.

AlـZubaidi is expected to visit Hadramout governorate during the coming days, as the STC officially announced it.