Yemen's Southern Separatists Rally for Independence Amid Regional Tensions

Thousands of Yemenis in Aden took to the streets on Saturday in a bold show of support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the country's main separatist group. The move comes despite Saudi-backed groups urging calm and a ban on demonstrations issued by authorities aligned with the Saudi-backed government. The STC, backed by the United Arab Emirates, has been at the forefront of a push for independence in southern Yemen. However, its advances in December sparked tensions with Saudi Arabia, a long-time ally of the STC's rival government. In a televised statement, Rashad al-Alimi, chief of the Saudi-backed Presidential Council, claimed that all contested cities had been brought under their control. However, the STC has denied it is planning to disband, citing coercion and pressure from Riyadh. The STC has been at odds with Saudi Arabia and the UAE over a range of issues, including geopolitics and oil output. The group's leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, skipped talks in Riyadh earlier this week, and the Saudi-led coalition accused the UAE of helping him escape. The STC has called for mass protests in southern cities, despite the ban on demonstrations. The group's members in Riyadh have been detained and are being forced to issue statements, according to the STC. The rallies in Aden are a powerful message of support for the STC's push for independence. One protester told Reuters: 'This large public gathering is a powerful message and a popular referendum in the south for the Southern Transitional Council.' The situation in Yemen remains volatile, with the STC's rival government vowing to 'strike firmly and decisively against anyone who seeks to tamper with security or disrupt public order.'