In Yemen’s south, pro-independence gatherings rekindle opposition to unification

A recent protest by tens of thousands of Yemenis in Aden calling for independence from the north was the latest demonstration of increased political activity in the country’s south.

The demonstration on Friday was in support of the Southern Transitional Council, which is led by the former governor of Aden, Brigadier Aidarous Al Zubaidi.

The protest took place after more than two years of war against the Houthi militias controlling Sanaa.

While the large protest echoed others in support of the Southern Transitional Council, small protests have also emerged opposing it. However, the southern movement, which was established on 7 July, 2007, demanding independence for the south, continues to be popular.

This week marked the anniversary of the 1994 war between Yemen’s north and south, which led to the unification of the country. There have been protests every year on this date, demanding independence of the south.

Mansour Saleh, a member of the media committee of the Southern Transitional Council, said that last Friday’s protest was “a type of referendum on independence and authorisation to the southern council”.

While he acknowledged there are some who are critical of the Southern Transitional Council, he said there is no real opposition to the council, but small disputes. He went on to say that “the main reason for these disputes are misunderstandings”, without going into detail. He said the council is a partner of the Arab coalition of countries fighting to defeat the Iranbacked Houthis, and extremist groups such as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Southern Transitional Council was formed on 4 May and consists of a president and 25 members from all eight southern provinces. It includes three women and it aims to rule the south, it says, if the government fails to do its duty for the region.

Mr Al Zubaidi, the council’s president, has lobbied for support. This week he mer British MEP James Carver.

Mr Carver said they discussed the possibility of a federal system as “the best way forward”. Mr Carver explained that “the southern people want to have a federal state” that should be supported.

As the war in Yemen continues, a federal solution is being considered as a way towards a peace agreement. In the aftermath of the Yemen uprising of 2011 that led to the downfall of president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the establishment of the National Dialogue Conference, there had been a plan for the establishment of a federal state in Yemen.

However, the Houthis rejected this proposal.

“We cannot continue with a proxy war, there is a humanitarian crisis that has to be dealt with,” Mr Carver said referring to fears of a famine and a cholera outbreak.

He also said the people of Aden “clearly have faith in the STC and it is what they want”, adding “It doesn’t matter what I as a Brit want, but what they want is the most important.”

To the fighting between the government and Houthi rebels, threats of cholera and starvation, a familiar dimension in Yemeni politics is added