Yemen southern separatist leader skips Riyadh talks amid Saudi–UAE rift

RIYADH: The political crisis in Yemen intensified on Wednesday after the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidarous al-Zubaidi, did not board a flight to Riyadh for crisis talks, further complicating efforts to calm escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Zubaidi’s absence created uncertainty over the negotiations, which were expected to address the recent military escalation in southern Yemen and fractures within the Saudi-backed coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

The STC later said Zubaidi was in Aden overseeing security and military affairs. However, his exact whereabouts could not be independently verified.

A senior STC official said members of the group’s delegation had reached Riyadh and that talks would proceed. The official said the delegation would participate in meetings aimed at a “South–South dialogue” under Saudi sponsorship. It remained unclear who would lead the STC in the talks.

Another STC official told Reuters that Zubaidi had not fled the country and was in a “safe location” in Aden, adding that it was not appropriate for him to travel amid the prevailing security situation.

Meanwhile, Saudi state media reported that government forces allied with Riyadh were advancing toward Aden.

In a major development, Yemen’s Saudi-backed presidential council removed Zubaidi from membership and referred him to the public prosecutor on charges including high treason. The decision, announced by council chief Rashad al-Alimi, accused him of inciting rebellion and carrying out abuses against civilians.

The Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said there were indications that Zubaidi had mobilised large forces. He added that the coalition had asked STC vice president Abdulrahman al-Mahrami, also known as Abu Zara’a, to take charge of security in Aden. Abu Zara’a recently met the Saudi defence minister in Riyadh.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE — key partners in the Gulf — have sharpened after fighting broke out last month between UAE-backed STC forces and the Saudi-backed internationally recognised Yemeni government.

The UAE withdrew its troops from Yemen last month following pressure from Saudi Arabia, which viewed the southern separatists’ advances as a security threat. The UAE has since called for de-escalation.

The Saudi-led coalition also said it carried out limited pre-emptive airstrikes in al-Dhalea province, Zubaidi’s hometown, after detecting movements of armed groups leaving their camps. Local sources reported more than 15 strikes in the area.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in Yemen’s war after the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. The STC, formed in 2017 with Emirati support, later joined the government coalition but has long sought greater autonomy in the south.

The latest escalation has further fractured the anti-Houthi alliance and diminished hopes for a quick resolution to Yemen’s political and military crisis.