Southern Yemen separatists announce plans to disband immediately

Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council Announces Dissolution

The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group from Yemen, has announced its dissolution following talks in Saudi Arabia. According to Abdulrahman Al-Subaihi, STC Secretary-General, the decision was made to preserve peace and security in the south and neighboring countries.

In a broadcast on Yemeni television, Al-Subaihi praised the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stating that they met the needs of the people of the South. The announcement comes after a split emerged within the group, with some members not participating in the talks in Riyadh.

The STC had previously stated it had lost contact with all members of its delegation in Riyadh. A feud between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has been ongoing since the STC launched an offensive against Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops in December.

On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen accused Aidarous al-Zubaidi, STC leader, of fleeing to the UAE via Somaliland after skipping the talks. The exact circumstances surrounding the group’s dissolution are unclear at this time.

Source: Al Jazeera