Yemen's Alliance Under Strain: Saudi Arabia Demands Separatist Withdrawal from Key Provinces

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemeni Separatists to Retreat from Vital Eastern Governorates

A fragile alliance opposing Yemen's Houthi rebels is facing a significant test as Saudi Arabia publicly demands the withdrawal of a prominent southern separatist group from two strategically crucial eastern provinces. Riyadh has labeled the recent territorial gains by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) an “unjustified escalation,” warning of severe consequences for regional stability.

The Separatist Advance: Seizing Oil-Rich Territories

Earlier in December, the STC, a powerful faction that previously received considerable support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), rapidly seized control of the oil-rich Hadramout and al-Mahra governorates. These swift operations, which faced minimal resistance, saw the separatists taking over key oil facilities, government buildings, and vital border crossings. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the group also occupied the presidential palace in Aden, which serves as the temporary seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government.

The strategic importance of these provinces cannot be overstated. Hadramout, sharing a 684km (425-mile) border with Saudi Arabia, is considered vital to the Kingdom's national security, while Oman has similar concerns regarding al-Mahra on its frontier. Both governorates are critical hubs for trade routes and hold substantial energy resources, which the STC views as essential building blocks for an independent southern state.

Riyadh's Stance: Calling for Restraint and Reversal

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement, directly calling for the STC to reverse its military operations. The Kingdom emphasized the critical need for all Yemeni factions to “exercise restraint and avoid any measures that could destabilize security and stability.”

Riyadh further stated that mediation efforts are actively underway, aiming to facilitate the STC forces’ return to “their previous positions outside of the two governorates” and to hand over the occupied camps to the National Shield Forces. The Saudi government expressed hope for an “urgent and orderly manner” withdrawal to restore stability to the region.

Deepening Cracks in the Anti-Houthi Coalition

The STC is nominally part of the broader Presidential Leadership Council, a Saudi-backed coalition representing Yemen's government, formed to unite efforts against the Iran-aligned Houthis. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been key backers of the government in Yemen's civil war since 2015.

However, despite the STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, holding a seat on the Presidential Leadership Council, the group has increasingly acted independently. A joint delegation from Saudi Arabia and the UAE visited Aden on December 12 in an attempt to negotiate a resolution, but these efforts have yet to yield a breakthrough. The call fromSaudi Arabia demands Yemeni separatists leave seized governoratesunderscores the growing internal friction within the anti-Houthi front.

Saudi Arabia demands Yemeni separatists leave seized governorates

Expansion and Independence: The STC's Ambitions

Far from withdrawing, the STC has shown signs of expanding its operations, moving into the neighboring Abyan province. The group has openly declared its ultimate goal to be the seizure of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, from the Houthis, who have controlled northern Yemen since 2014.

Al-Zubaidi recently rallied supporters, asserting that the south stands at a “critical and existential juncture” requiring dedicated efforts to build “the institutions of the future South Arabian state.” The STC was formed in 2017 with the explicit aim of restoring South Yemen, which existed as an independent nation between 1967 and 1990.

A Critical Juncture for Yemen's Future

Analysts are sounding alarms, warning that this significant escalation could jeopardize Yemen's already fragile truce, potentially benefiting the Houthi rebels by diverting resources and attention from the united front against them. The internal divisions threaten to unravel years of efforts to bring stability to the war-torn nation, making Riyadh's demand for withdrawal a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict.