Southern Yemen Clings To Its Political Project Amid Expanding Protests Against Saudi Influence
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Southern governorates in Yemen are witnessing a sustained wave of demonstrations in support of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), signaling growing public opposition to Saudi Arabia’s role in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government and what protesters describe as attempts to reshape the political and security landscape in the South in ways that contradict their political aspirations.
Over recent weeks, rallies and mass demonstrations have continued across Aden, Hadramawt, Al-Mahrah, Al-Dhalea, Lahj, Abyan, and other cities and districts throughout southern Yemen. Protesters carried banners rejecting what they described as “Saudi tutelage” and linked the deterioration of public services and economic conditions to Saudi policies implemented in the South. They also renewed their support for the Southern Transitional Council, describing it as the political representative of the Southern cause.
In the city of Aden, participants in the demonstrations reaffirmed their commitment to what they called the Southern people’s right to manage their own affairs free from external interference.
Meanwhile, STC leaders said the protests reflected public rejection of attempts to impose new political arrangements in the South that do not reflect the will of the local population.
The demonstrations coincided with an expanded meeting chaired by STC President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, the first since the council’s presidential body was restructured earlier this year. Participants reviewed the latest political and security developments and affirmed their commitment to strengthening the cohesion of Southern institutions while enhancing security and military preparedness.
Observers believe the timing of the meeting carries significance beyond organizational matters, as it comes amid escalating disagreements between the STC and Riyadh and follows months of tension after Saudi military operations targeted Southern forces late last year. Those operations reshaped the balance of power within the anti-Houthi camp and significantly weakened it.
At the same time, Southern politicians and activists have warned that weakening the Southern forces—which led counterterrorism operations against Al-Qaeda in southern governorates over recent years—could have adverse consequences for the security situation. They point to signs suggesting that some extremist groups are attempting to reorganize their activities in areas that had previously been subject to stringent security measures.
They argue that the continuing divisions among anti-Houthi factions affect not only the political landscape but also the broader security architecture, potentially creating vacuums that armed groups could exploit. This, they say, makes the future of southern Yemen a key factor in the security of maritime routes and international trade corridors stretching across the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
Analysts note that the persistence of the protests into a seventh consecutive month, along with their expansion to several southern governorates, indicates that the crisis is no longer driven solely by deteriorating public services or economic conditions. Rather, it has evolved into a deeper political dispute over the nature of relations with Riyadh and the future of the Southern cause, at a time when the Southern Transitional Council appears intent on demonstrating its political cohesion and maintaining its popular support.
