Yemen’s Southern Separatists Announce Disputed Dissolution After Riyadh Talks
Yemen’s main southern separatist movement has announced its dissolution following talks in Saudi Arabia, according to its secretary-general, who said the decision was taken to preserve peace and security in the south and the wider region.
He praised Saudi Arabia’s role in facilitating the talks, saying the measures proposed by Riyadh address the needs of people in southern Yemen. However, the announcement was immediately contested within the movement.
A spokesperson based in the United Arab Emirates rejected the dissolution claim, calling it baseless and insisting that such decisions can only be made by the full leadership under the council’s president. He said the group would continue engaging in political initiatives aimed at allowing southerners to determine their future.
Separately, the movement’s national assembly called on supporters to join protests in the cities of Aden and Mukalla, rejecting what it described as partial or evasive solutions to the southern issue.
The developments come amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE after the separatists launched an offensive against government forces in December. While the possible dissolution marks a significant political moment, internal divisions and regional rivalries mean the future of the movement remains uncertain.
