South Yemen Conflict
By: Mōhai Peloso
South Yemen’s Struggle for Independence Continues
A power struggle in southern Yemen has intensified after Saudi-backed government forces seized control of Aden, a major port city in southern Yemen. Aidarous al-Zubaidi, a South Yemeni leader and a separatist, has been fighting against the Houthis and working towards an independent “State of South Arabia.” Under his leadership, the Southern Transnational Council (STC) was able to seize much of southern Yemen in 2025 which created more tension with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni forces which were backed by Saudi Arabia.
The Southern Transitional Council is a political organization that was formed in May 2017 in Aden, Yemen. The STC’s goal is making South Yemen independent again, the way it was from 1967 to 1990 until unification with North Yemen in 1990. The STC has played an influential role amid the ongoing changes in Yemen’s political situation, advocating for greater autonomy in the south and getting support from the United Arab Emirates and regional partners, even as it navigates complex relationships with both the internationally-recognized government and Saudi-backed forces.
Southern Yemen lies along the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, the country’s de facto capital, which allows a significant share of global trade and energy shipments to pass. Any conflict in southern Yemen can threaten the safe passage of oil, gas, and global trade, which directly affects the U.S. economy. Things that pass through this checkpoint include a significant portion of the Middle Eastern oil that gets exported to the U.S. and Europe.
Due to the seizure of territory from Saudi Arabia, Al-Zubaidi was also removed from office following accusations of not following the Constitution, but despite all of the accusations, his supporters remain loyal to him and to the STC. Supporters in southern Yemen remain optimistic that they will soon become independent again, continuing peaceful protests to protect their rights, resources, and self-governance.
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