Aden (South24 Center)

Amid the unprecedented directives issued by Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Vice President, and Southern Transitional Council (STC) chief Aidrous Al-Zubaidi on September 10, there has been a notable increase in calls to establish a collaborative decision-making mechanism within the Presidential Council.

Several statements from leaders associated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) have revealed the underlying structural crises within the PLC.

Mohammed Al-Ghaithi, head of the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission supporting the Presidential Council, called via platform X for a "serious and direct dialogue leading to an effective participatory mechanism to end the deadlock”. He emphasized that the commission’s presidency is moving to "enhance cohesion" and agree on clear rules for decision-making.

In parallel, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, a member of the Presidential Council, stressed that "unilateral decisions made over the past years have been a major cause of division”, warning that solo decision-making "hinders the transition process and undermines trust among members."

Al-Mahrami, who is also vice president of the Southern Transitional Council, affirmed that adherence to the terms of the mandate and collective responsibility is "essential to ensure the country’s stability”.

Another Presidential Council member and STC vice president, Faraj Al-Bahsani, urgently called for the adoption of a code of conduct to regulate the presidential council’s duties, arguing that its absence exacerbates crises and "opens the door to corruption”.

In a related development, the Political Bureau of the National Resistance, led by Presidential Council member Tariq Saleh, reiterated in an official statement its opposition to what it described as "unilateral practices" within the council. It emphasized the need to adhere to the principle of national partnership and respect consensus-based decision-making.

The bureau referenced a previous statement in June 2025 urging a review of these practices. Following that statement, Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Council, met with the Political Bureau of the National Resistance.

These calls coincide with a "package of decisions" issued by Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, vice president of the council and head of the STC, which included 14 appointments to ministries, agencies, and governorates in the south (including the Land Authority, deputy ministers, and deputy governors). This move is seen as unprecedented.

Independent analyses suggest that Al-Zubaidi’s decisions can be interpreted as an attempt to "readjust the dynamics" within the Presidential Council amid ongoing accusations that its chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, has been making unilateral decisions and bypassing the power-transfer declaration, which mandates a consensus-based mechanism.

According to informed sources speaking to ‘South24 Center’, regional mediations have been underway since the beginning of the week to "bridge the gap of disagreement" and reach a preliminary understanding paving the way for a full council meeting in Riyadh.

The sources noted that six council members have already arrived in Riyadh, while two others are expected to arrive later on Wednesday.

Sources said that members of the Presidential Council will hold a meeting with Saudi officials, following the disputes that surfaced within the council. The Presidential Council members are also expected to hold a separate meeting at a later date.