Southern Transitional Council

The Southern Transitional Council (STC; Arabic: المجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي‎ al-Majlis al-Intiqālī l-Janūbiyy) is a secessionist organization in Yemen. The 26 members of the STC include the governors of five southern governorates and two government ministers. It was formed by a faction of the Southern Movement, also known as al-Hirak al-Janoubi. The Southern Movement was established in 2007, during the term of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and it has called for and worked toward the separation of southern Yemen from the rest of the nation (as it previously was until 1990).

Southern Transitional Council
المجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي
Logo of the STC
Overview
Established4 April 2017 (declared)[1]
11 May 2017 (formed)[2]
StateYemen
LeaderAidarus al-Zoubaidi
Main organCouncil
Ministries26
HeadquartersAden, Yemen
Websitestcaden.com

Declared on 11 May 2017, the council is headed by the former Governor of Aden, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, as president, with former-minister of state Hani Bin Breik as vice-president.[3] The formation of the council was authorized a week earlier by the Historic Aden Declaration announced at a rally protesting the dismissal of al-Zoubaidi from his post as governor.[4] The STC claims to rule most of the territory in southern Yemen.[5][6][7][8]

History

On April 27, 2017, a presidential decree was given by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi dismissing Aidarus al-Zoubaidi from his post as governor of Aden, due to his close ties with the UAE whom President Hadi described as “acting like occupiers” in the city [9]. This was met with large demonstrations in the city in support of the deposed but popular Zoubaidi [10].

With the help and support of the UAE, the STC was formed on May 11, 2017 with Aidarus al-Zoubaidi as its leader.[2] Immediately, President Hadi called the council illegitimate.[11][6][12][13]

Territorial situation in Yemen in 2019.
  Controlled by Southern Transitional Council

Beginning on 28 January 2018, separatists loyal to the STC seized control of the Yemeni government headquarters in Aden in a coup d'état against the Hadi government.[14][15]

In January 2018, as the head of the STC, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi announced a state of emergency in Aden and that "the STC has begun the process of overthrowing Hadi’s rule over the South".[16]

On 27 August 2019, tensions continued to escalate in southern Yemen after the UAE-backed Security Belt Forces (SBF) lost territories to troops loyal to the Saudi-backed government of President Hadi. The troops advanced on the capital Aden and instead of engaging in street fighting, took positions outside of the city in order to prevent civilian casualties.

On 29 August 2019, to stop government forces from advancing and reclaiming the capital, the UAE carried out air strikes on government positions outside of Aden, which killed and injured over 300 government soldiers.

Despite membership in the coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, the UAE fell out with Hadi's government after the former accused Hadi of aligning with the Islah party, a powerful party, which it viewed as ideologically close to the Muslim Brotherhood.[17]

The STC declared self-governance on 26 April 2020.[18] The government said local and security authorities in the provinces of Hadramawt, Abyan, Shabwa, al-Mahra, and the island of Socotra dismissed the move as a "clear and definite coup".[19] In Aden, the movement's attempt was successful, as it occupied all governmental institutions.[20]

STC Backing

The UAE helped create the SBF in southern Yemen. Since its formation, the SBF has played a crucial role in the Saudi-led coalition before the recent escalation.

Its successes came in part due to being militarily backed by the UAE. The backing included training of SBF fighters in Abu Dhabi and the supply of military equipment. Emirati backing was crucial in helping the STC gain Aden, which has been under its control since 2018.

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See also

References
  1. "Aden's Historic Announcement". 4 April 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  2. Maher Farrukh (2 November 2017). "Threat Update: Yemen and Southern Secessionism". Critical Threats. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  3. Forster, R (September 2017). "The Southern Transitional Council: Implications for Yemen's peace process" (PDF). Middle East Policy. 24.3 (3): 133–144. doi:10.1111/mepo.12295.
  4. "Aden Historic Declaration". Southern Hirak. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. The New Arab. "GCC: Aden-based Southern Transitional Council 'doomed to fail'". alaraby.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  6. The New Arab. "Banished Aden governor forms independent "South Yemen" council". alaraby.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  7. Saudi Research & Marketing (uk) Ltd. "Thirty Southern Figures Reject Transitional Council in Aden – ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  8. "Separatist group announces self-rule in southern Yemen". Al Jazeera. 26 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020.
  9. "EXCLUSIVE: Yemen president says UAE acting like occupiers". Middle East Eye. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via www.middleeasteye.com.
  10. "Yemenis march against Hadi after sacking of Aden governor". Middle East Eye. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via www.middleeasteye.com.
  11. "GCC rejects formation of Yemen transitional council | Yemen News | Al Jazeera". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  12. Saudi Research & Marketing (uk) Ltd. "Hadi Rejects 'South Council,' Urges Members to Clarify their Stances". english.aawsat.com. Asharq Al-Awsat English. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  13. "Yemen gov't rejects formation of "southern transitional council" – Xinhua | English.news.cn". news.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. "Separatist clashes flare in south Yemen". BBC News. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018 – via www.BBC.com.
  15. "Yémen: les séparatistes sudistes, à la recherche de l'indépendance perdue". Le Point. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  16. Jonkers, Brecht (29 January 2018). "South Yemen separatists send reinforcements to Aden". AMN (Al Masdar News). Archived from the original on 29 January 2018.
  17. "Activist: 'Hadi Has to Go, Someone More Moderate' Must Lead Yemen". Sputnik. 30 January 2018.
  18. "Yemen separatists declare self-governance of south". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved Apr 26, 2020.
  19. "Yemen provinces reject separatists' claim to self-rule". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  20. "Crisis in Yemen as Aden separatists declare self-rule". the Guardian. 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
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