Aden (South24 Center)

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) strongly condemned on Wednesday (November 5) the statements by Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Al-Zindani, in which he dismissed the existence of any substantive proposals regarding a "two-state solution" in Yemen. The STC termed his remarks as "a clear insult to the cause of the Southern people" and contradictory to existing political understandings.

In an interview with the newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej Bahrain on Tuesday, the Minister stated that "what is being circulated about a two-state solution in Yemen does not reflect the political reality or the stance of the legitimate government."

He added, "There are no actual proposals in this regard on the ground. In Yemen, we are talking about genuine national partnerships and seek to address issues through just solutions that meet everyone's needs."

Al-Zindani further noted that "political differences among active forces can be addressed within a national framework that allows for overcoming the Houthi influence, as any solution outside this framework would be impossible under the current complex circumstances."

His statements have sparked widespread controversy in Southern circles, with activists and journalists expressing their dissatisfaction on social media platforms. Some said that the Minister was choosing to ignore the "existing political reality" and have demanded an apology to the Southern people.

In an official statement, the Southern Transitional Council stated that the Minister's remarks "represent a personal opinion that does not reflect the collective stance nor the agreed-upon commitments among partners."

It described the Foreign Minister's comments as "an attempt to overturn the facts of the partnership emanating from the Riyadh Agreement and its consultations, and the understandings with the Arab Coalition."

The statement affirmed that "the cause of the Southern people is a national cause, founded on immense sacrifices, imposed by facts on the ground, and recognized by political understandings," emphasizing that "the option of restoring the Southern state is an inherent and legitimate right that is not open for negotiation."

The Council called on the Riyadh Agreement power-sharing government to "urgently" clarify its position regarding these statements and take necessary measures to prevent the repetition of "such transgressions that undermine the spirit of partnership and harm political consensus."