Aden (South24 Center)

South Yemen governorates on Sunday (December 7) witnessed a rising wave of popular sit-ins called by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), coinciding with notable military movements in Aden, Hadramout, and Al-Mahra.

The sit-in activities began in Hadramout, where the STC on Saturday evening announced the start of open sit-ins in Mukalla and Seiyun to demand the "completion of the aspirations of the people of the South."

#BREAKING
Photos from the open-ended sit-in in Seiyun, Wadi Hadramout, demanding the declaration of the Southern state.#south24 pic.twitter.com/KEhNJFyWHs

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 7, 2025

The calls were renewed Sunday morning with the anticipated launch of a public sit-in at Mukalla's "Our Decision is Our Decision" square, alongside the establishment of an open camp on Sixtieth Street in Seiyun to demand the "Second Declaration of Independence of the Southern State."

#BREAKING
Commencement of an open-ended sit-in camp on Al-Siteen Street in Seiyun to demand the second declaration of the independence of the Southern state.#south24 pic.twitter.com/Bl6xsgGat0

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 7, 2025

In the capital, Aden, the STC on Saturday (December 6) called for an open public sit-in in Al-Arood Square in Khormaksar, a move that coincided with political and military transformations witnessed in the city.

#BREAKING
Photos from South24 Center: Beginning of convergence on Al-Aroud Square in the capital, Aden, for the mass sit-in and demand for Southern independence.#south24 pic.twitter.com/ktTvtuGTta

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 7, 2025

The popular movement extended to Dhalea, where the STC announced an open sit-in beginning on Monday (December 8), with expectations that other governorates will witness similar activities in the coming days.

#BREAKING
Photos from South24 Center: Beginning of convergence on Al-Aroud Square in the capital, Aden, for the mass sit-in and demand for Southern independence.#south24 pic.twitter.com/ktTvtuGTta

— South24 | English (@South24E) December 7, 2025

These popular movements come amid rapid military and political changes. On December 5, the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, left the capital, Aden, for Riyadh to hold consultations on "local developments and recent events in Hadramout and Al-Mahra," according to the official SABA news agency.

His departure followed intensive meetings in Mukalla between the governor of Hadramout and a Saudi delegation that addressed the security and military situation after northern forces were expelled from the Hadramout valley and desert, and Southern Forces took control of the First Military Zone's headquarters.

On December 6, a well-informed source told South24 Center that Saudi forces in Aden had begun moving their equipment out of South Yemen in preparation for departure. Saudi forces have moved out of the Maashiq government palace, which was handed over to the Southern Storm forces. Saudi forces also left Mayun island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to the source, with expectations of similar steps involving the Saudi force at Aden airport.

On Sunday, military units from the Southern Forces arrived in Al-Mahra governorate under the command of Special Forces Commander Fadl Ba'ash.

The Southern Forces now control most of the geographical area of the former South Yemeni state as it existed before 1990, as popular calls for declaring independence escalate.

Commenting on these developments, Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdallah called on the Gulf states to "reconcile with reality and recognize the Arab South as a legitimate state."