Southern Transitional Council facts for kids
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المجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي
al-Majlis al-Intiqālī l-Janūbiyy |
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Official seal
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| Abbreviation | STC |
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| Formation | Aden Historic Declaration
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| Founder | Major General Aidarus al-Zoubaidi |
| Type | Secessionist organization Transitional government authority |
| Purpose | Restoration of sovereignty of South Yemen |
| Headquarters | Tawahi District, Aden, Yemen |
| Origins | The Southern Movement |
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Region
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South Yemen |
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Secretary General
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Governor of Aden/ Ahmed Hamid Lamlas |
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Board Chairman, & President
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Major General Aidarus al-Zoubaidi |
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Board Vice-Chairman, & Vice-president
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Hani Ben Brik |
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Chairman of the National Assembly
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General Ahmed Said Ben Brik |
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Main organ
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Council’s Presidency Board |
| Affiliations | Republic of Yemen (2022–)
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| Website | stcaden.com |
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) is a group in southern Yemen that wants to create a separate country. It is also known by its Arabic name, Arabic: المجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي, romanized: al-Majlis al-Intiqālī l-Janūbiyy. The STC has 26 members, including leaders from five southern areas and two government ministers.
This group was started in 2017 by a part of the Southern Movement. The STC wants southern Yemen to become its own country again, just like it was before 1990.
The council is led by Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, who used to be the governor of Aden. Hani Bin Breik, a former government minister, is the vice-president. The STC was officially announced on May 11, 2017. Its formation was supported by the "Historic Aden Declaration" a week earlier. This declaration happened after a protest when al-Zoubaidi was removed from his job as governor. The STC is a major group in the ongoing Yemeni Civil War. It says it controls most of southern Yemen.
In April 2022, the STC joined the Presidential Leadership Council. This happened after the former Yemeni President, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, stepped down. He gave his powers to this new group. The head of the STC, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, became the Vice President of the new government. In May 2023, the STC gained more power in the council. It increased its members from one to three out of eight total seats.
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How the STC Started
On April 27, 2017, President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi removed Aidarus al-Zoubaidi from his role as governor of Aden. This was because al-Zoubaidi had strong connections with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). President Hadi felt the UAE was "acting like occupiers" in the city. Many people in Aden supported al-Zoubaidi, and large protests happened after he was removed.
| Aden Historic Declaration إعلان عدن التاريخي Iʿlān ʿAdan at-Tārīḵiyy |
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| Location | Freedom square, Khormaksar district. Aden |
| Purpose | Delegating M. General Aidarus al-Zoubaidi to declare a national political leadership to administrate and represent the South |
On May 4, 2017, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi gave a speech. The STC calls this speech the "Aden Historic Declaration." He spoke in Aden's Freedom Square.
With help from the UAE, the STC was officially formed on May 11, 2017. Al-Zoubaidi became its leader. President Hadi immediately said the new council was not legal.
Key Events and Conflicts
Starting on January 28, 2018, groups loyal to the STC took control of the Yemeni government buildings in Aden. This was a takeover against the Hadi government.
In January 2018, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, as head of the STC, announced a state of emergency in Aden. He said the STC had started to remove Hadi's control over the South.
On August 27, 2019, problems grew in southern Yemen. The Security Belt Forces (SBF), supported by the UAE, lost land to troops loyal to President Hadi's government. These government troops moved towards the capital city, Aden. They stopped outside the city to avoid hurting civilians.
On August 29, 2019, the UAE launched airstrikes on government positions outside Aden. This was to stop government forces from taking back the capital. Over 300 government soldiers were killed or injured.
The UAE and Hadi's government had disagreements. The UAE accused Hadi of working with the Islah party. The UAE saw this party as being too similar to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The STC declared that it would govern itself on April 26, 2020. However, local leaders in several areas like Hadramawt, Abyan, Shabwa, al-Mahra, and the island of Socotra rejected this. They called it a "clear and definite coup." But in Aden, the STC successfully took control of all government buildings.
To stop fighting between Yemeni government forces and the STC, a new government group was formed in December 2020. This new group was supported by Saudi Arabia. It included an equal number of representatives from northern and southern Yemen. This was meant to end the fighting so both sides could work together against the Houthi rebels in the civil war.
In April 2022, the STC officially joined the Presidential Leadership Council. This new governing body was created after the former president resigned. STC leader Aidarus al-Zoubaidi became the new Vice President.
In May 2023, during an STC meeting, they adopted a plan called the "Southern National Pact." This plan asked for the Southern Movement to be included in the Yemeni peace process. They wanted this to happen under a separate agreement. The Houthi insurgents strongly criticized this meeting and its decisions. Despite this, the STC managed to get three members on the Presidential Leadership Council, out of eight total seats.
In December 2023, the Southern Transitional Council said it was willing to work with Israel. This was to fight against the Houthi attacks on ships.
What the STC Wants to Achieve
Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, the head of the STC, has said that the goal of their May 2023 meeting was to start talks and bring people together. The main aim is to make southern areas stronger against attacks from the Houthis. The STC often talks about the "southern question." This means they want the Southern Movement to be part of the peace talks in Yemen.
The STC is strongly against Iran's attempts to control the important Bab al-Mandeb strait. This strait is a key waterway in the Red Sea. The STC believes Iran tries to control it through its Houthi allies. The STC describes itself as a group that believes in separating religion from government (secular) and in strong national pride (nationalists). They are against a system where religious leaders rule.
Regarding the changes to the PLC in May 2023, Aidarous stated: "It was necessary to strengthen the cohesiveness of the south and prepare for any Houthi attacks. The Houthis are reinforcing themselves and could attack anytime... They live and they survive during war, not during peace."
See also
- Southern Movement
- Yemeni Socialist Party
- South Yemen insurgency
Images for kids
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Official seal of the STC
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The text of the Aden Historic Declaration in Arabic
