South24 | Aden

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Tens of thousands of Southerners demonstrated on Friday (January 23) in Aden, Hadramout, and Al-Mahra in South Yemen, calling for an independent Southern state, in parallel with a Saudi-sponsored dialogue expected to be held in Riyadh in the coming weeks.

Earlier on Tuesday, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) urged Southerners to participate in a mass rally under the banner of the “Million-Rally of Steadfastness and Popular Escalation.”

The protesters reaffirmed their support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and renewed their mandate for its president, Al-Zubaidi, to continue leading the council.

Participants raised the flags of the former state of South Yemen and chanted slogans opposing Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi.

In Aden, Al-Oroudh Square in Khormaksar district was filled with demonstrators, who raised portraits of Al-Zubaidi and PLC member Abdulrahman Al-Muharrami, in addition to photos of victims of Saudi airstrikes in Hadramout.

In Hadramout, local sources told South24 Center that security forces prevented some convoys of demonstrators coming from outside the city of Mukalla from entering the city.

South24 Center covered the three demonstrations, which were held simultaneously.

A speaker who took part in the Al-Ghaydah rally in Al-Mahra governorate told South24 that “the  STC is the representative of our people, and our demands are the establishment of a Southern state within the borders of 1990.”

Another speaker in Aden said that any dialogue concerning the South must support the option of independence, warning that any alternative would face widespread popular rejection.

Two identical statements were issued by the Aden and Hadramout rallies, stressing that the broad public participation “sends a clear message domestically, regionally, and internationally” that the Southern people stand united behind their cause and their political leadership, represented by the STC as “the political and national bearer of the Southern cause.”

The statement emphasized “firm adherence to the Southern national goal” of restoring the Southern state “with full sovereignty over its land and internationally recognized borders,” while rejecting “any formulas that fall short of this objective.”

It said the mass rally reflects “steadfastness and continuity in the Southern struggle” and rejects guardianship and external interference.

The statement also affirmed the right of the Southern people to “peaceful struggle and organized popular escalation through all legitimate mass means,” while committing to maintaining peacefulness and protecting public and private property.

It condemned “campaigns of incitement, distortion, and abuse” targeting Major General Aidarous Al-Zubaidi and the leadership of the STC, calling for “an end to hostile media campaigns.”

The statement warned against “any measures or practices aimed at dismantling the entity of the Southern Transitional Council, undermining its leadership, or confiscating its headquarters.”

It also declared “full solidarity” with the STC leadership in Hadramout governorate, denouncing what it described as “harassment and arbitrary measures” against them.

The statement further called for “the withdrawal of the northern forces known as Emergency Forces from Hadramout,” citing their lack of popular support.

Saudi television channels provided notable coverage of the Southern demonstrations, with Al Arabiya and Al Hadath hosting Southern figures and officials currently in Riyadh to comment on the protests in South Yemen.

Riyadh intends to organize a comprehensive Southern dialogue involving various Southern parties in order to reach a vision for addressing the Southern issue.

Saudi Arabia has previously announced its support for any outcomes that meet the aspirations of the Southern people.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia continues a media confrontation with its ally, the United Arab Emirates, over recent developments in South Yemen. Saudi-affiliated media outlets accused, last week, Abu Dhabi of building secret prisons in the city of Mukalla, allegations that the UAE denied in a statement by its Ministry of Defense, describing them as “misleading allegations.”

Southern observers fear that these tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE could affect the Southern cause and the cohesion of Southern positions, or lead to a weakening of focus on security, services, and counterterrorism efforts, potentially allowing extremist groups to exploit the situation and destabilize the scene.

In early December, South Yemen witnessed military confrontations after Southern forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council took control of Hadramout and Al-Mahra governorates in an operation they described as “securing Hadramout, cutting smuggling routes, and combating terrorism,” before Saudi-backed forces, with Saudi air cover, regained control of both governorates early this month.