Yemen: recognizing the South is the beginning of regional stability

Recently, the southern Arab governorates have been witnessing an unprecedented popular movement—both in its geographic reach and political depth—in which civilians are calling for the restoration of the State of South Arabia within its pre-1990 borders.

The movement has spread from Aden to Hadramaut and Socotra, and from Abyan to Shabwah, Al-Mahrah, Al-Dhalea, and Lahj, stressing that the South will not remain under occupation.

On Monday, 22 December 2025, ministers and officials in the government announced their support for calls by the Southern Transitional Council for southern Yemen to separate from the North, and expressed their backing for what they called the declaration of a “State of South Arabia.”

Their announcements appeared in written and video statements published by media outlets affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council and by accounts linked to it on social media.

Those endorsing the move included Abdul Nasser Al-Wali, Minister of Civil Service and Insurance; Mohammed Saeed Al-Zaouri, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor; Salem Al-Socotri, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth; as well as Salah Al-Aqel, Deputy Minister of Information.

In a video statement, Minister Abdul Nasser Al-Wali said: “The leadership of the Ministry of Civil Service and Insurance announces its full support for all decisions and directions of the leadership of the people of the South.” He added that these decisions—represented by President Aidarus Qasim Al-Zubaidi (head of the Southern Transitional Council and a member of the Presidential Leadership Council)—aim to “secure the Southerners’ right to establish their state.”

He continued: “We sincerely and freely call upon our brothers in the regional and international community to accept, understand, and respect the right of the people of the South to enforce their will.” He also stressed that the ministry would follow the STC leadership’s directives to carry out its national duties in serving citizens and enabling them to receive their legitimate rights in salaries, pensions, allowances, and settlements.

Ongoing movement

Separately, the Dutch parliament witnessed a gathering on 20 December 2025, organized by a large crowd of Southerners who expressed “full solidarity with the people of the South at home,” seeking to convey their voice to the world and to emphasize that Southerners abroad stand united with their people and their “just cause.”

Protesters said: “If the South had not been subjected to injustice and the stripping of rights, thousands of Southerners would not have been forced to live outside their country.” They stressed that the South had been a seized and occupied land, and that their demand today is to restore rights to their owners and enable Southerners to determine their own destiny.

They considered “unity of the Southern ranks at home and abroad” to be a safety valve for achieving this goal. They also addressed a message to Aidarus bin Qasim Al-Zubaidi, saying: “Forward, Aidarus… declare it a state,” echoing chants heard inside the South calling for declaring the Southern state and restoring sovereignty and legitimate rights.

In London, hundreds from the southern governorates held a demonstration calling for the independence of South Arabia, in a mass event organized by the Yemeni community residing in Britain.

Demonstrators raised South Arabian flags and chanted slogans reaffirming their commitment to the right of self-determination. They urged the international community to listen to what they described as the Southern street’s voice and a political cause that has remained unresolved for decades.

Decades of injustice

Since 1994, the South has suffered what the text describes as Yemeni occupation that has brought only destruction, poverty, and injustice—along with economic deterioration, lack of basic services, and insecurity—according to Abdullah Saeed Al-Qarwah.

He said this pushed the Southern people to hold sit-ins and peaceful demonstrations demanding the restoration of their right to self-determination and an end to an occupation that has lasted for decades. He added: “Independence is the only option for Southerners who have nothing left to lose. They have sacrificed blood and lives to regain their freedom and will not back down from their legitimate demands. The South will not remain merely subordinate governorates; it will become an independent, sovereign state and an effective regional partner.”