Seiyun (South24 Center)

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The city of Seiyun in Wadi Hadramout witnessed a massive rally on Thursday (May 7) to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the historic Aden Declaration and the founding of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Photos and video footage captured by a South24 Center correspondent showed crowds flocking to the event venue since the morning hours, arriving from various districts of Wadi Hadramout to participate in the celebration and renew the mandate for STC President Aidarous Al-Zubaidi.

#BREAKING

South24 Video: Crowds continue to flock to Seiyun in Hadramout to participate in the event supporting the Southern Transitional Council#south24 pic.twitter.com/gGNqr3KR0L

— South24 | English (@South24E) May 7, 2026

Participants chanted the Southern national anthem and slogans in support of the STC and its political leadership, while raising Southern flags and portraits of Al-Zubaidi.

A local source told South24 Center that security forces obstructed the arrival of public convoys coming from the districts of Tarim and Sah at the Al-Gharf checkpoint east of Seiyun, while they were heading to participate in the rally.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the Southern National Project and rejected any attempts to bypass the STC or weaken its political and popular presence.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the deteriorating living and service conditions, demanding solutions to the electricity, fuel, and basic services crises in Hadramout.

During the event, Abdulmalik Al-Tamimi, Acting Head of the STC Auxiliary Executive Body in Wadi and Desert Hadramout, said that the crowds in Seiyun reflect “the Hadrami people's adherence to the Southern Cause and the Southern National Project.”

#BREAKING

South24 Video: People of Hadramout celebrate in Seiyun the anniversary of the founding of the Southern Transitional Council and the Aden Historic Declaration#south24 pic.twitter.com/bPMAOqS0m1

— South24 | English (@South24E) May 7, 2026

He added that the popular mandate for the STC and its leadership “remains intact and renewed,” considering the rally a political message confirming the continued popular alignment around the Council.

In a related context, the district of Hadibo in the Socotra Archipelago witnessed a mass rally on Thursday morning to mark the same anniversary, with broad participation from residents of the archipelago.

Photos and video footage showed increasing numbers of participants ahead of the launch of the event, amid a wide public turnout celebrating the occasion.

The final statement issued in Socotra affirmed support for the STC and rejected any attempts to bypass the will of the people of the South or undermine their political cause, stressing that “the will of the people cannot be defeated, and the South is moving steadily toward achieving its goals.”

#BREAKING

Video: The people of Socotra renew the mandate for Al-Zoubaidi during the 9th anniversary commemoration of the "Historic Aden Declaration" in Hadibu district #south24 pic.twitter.com/bd2ygShE4E

— South24 | English (@South24E) May 7, 2026

The Seiyun and Socotra rallies are part of a series of events held across the governorates and cities of South Yemen.

The capital, Aden, witnessed a massive demonstration on May 4 at Al-Aroud Square in Khor Maksar, followed by a similar rally in Mukalla on May 5 and another in Al-Mahra on May 6, all aimed at renewing the mandate for the STC.

The commemoration of this anniversary represents a symbolic milestone in the trajectory of the Southern Cause. On May 4, 2017, Aden witnessed widespread protests that culminated in granting Aidarous Al-Zubaidi a mandate to form a political entity, which later led to the establishment of the Southern Transitional Council on May 11 of the same year.