Aidroos Al-Zubaidi Announces Transition Phase for the Declaration of a Southern State in Yemen

SadaNews - The President of the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen, Aidroos Al-Zubaidi, announced the start of a two-year transitional period followed by a referendum on the independence of the South, calling on the international community to sponsor what he described as an inclusive political dialogue, culminating in a referendum "that guarantees the right to self-determination through peaceful and transparent mechanisms," with the participation of international observers.

Al-Zubaidi stated in the political declaration issued by the Southern Transitional Council that the "achievements and gains" made by the people of the South in assuming responsibility for securing and managing their regions contributed to ending security threats and combating smuggling and terrorism, putting an end to the state of chaos and depletion of the South's resources, considering it a "responsible step towards fulfilling the aspirations of the Southern people to restore their state," according to his expression.

He pointed out that the "popular masses" witnessed in the various governorates of the South reflect united ranks and a consensus of popular will for a more stable future, achieving security, prosperity, development, and construction. He noted that the decision to enter the transitional phase came "based on the popular mandate and national responsibility, and on the statements and positions issued by the leaderships and elites of the state, government, and local authorities in the South, in addition to sensing the risks surrounding the existing political partnership."

The President of the Southern Transitional Council called on the international community to sponsor a dialogue among the concerned parties in the South and North, leading to a clear path and timelines that guarantee the rights of the Southern people, accompanied by organizing a popular referendum to exercise the right to self-determination, according to established international rules and practices, and under international supervision and monitoring.

Improving Conditions

Al-Zubaidi also stressed the importance of state institutions, government bodies, and local authorities performing their duties during and before the transitional period to normalize life and improve service and living conditions, and ensure the regular payment of salaries through organizing a revenue collection mechanism at the Central Bank in the capital, Aden, as an independent central authority.

He confirmed that the Transitional Council "extends its hand" to all national forces in the North to reach consensus on appropriate steps and mechanisms based on common denominators, indicating that "restoring the state of the South" should occur through a secure and responsible phased process that "preserves the legitimate rights of the South, avoids the North and the region the costs of new conflicts, and contributes to rearranging political and institutional situations on just and balanced foundations."

The President of the Transitional Council clarified that this announcement "provides the South the opportunity to gradually and safely achieve its aspirations, and grants the North a stable and responsible partner during the transitional phase. It also offers the region and the international community a clear political and legal path that can be supported and built upon."

He asserted that this path "does not represent a concession but is an expression of the will of a people that has made sacrifices and deserves a just legal solution without exposing its security and stability to additional risks," as he stated.

The South Will Remain

Al-Zubaidi reiterated that "the South will remain, during the transitional period, a support for its partners in the North, backing any efforts to confront the coup and rebuild state institutions and achieve security and stability in a way that serves common interests and preserves the security of the region."

In the same context, Al-Zubaidi called all components and political forces, without exception, to "enter into a responsible and constructive national dialogue based on mutual recognition of core issues, foremost among them the issue of the South and its people's right to self-determination, and a commitment to peaceful and consensual solutions, and rejecting the imposition of the status quo by force, and ensuring that dialogue is part of a serious and time-bound political track, not a tool to manage or prolong the crisis."

Transitional Phase

The President of the Southern Transitional Council concluded by affirming that the transitional phase will end two years from the date of the announcement, indicating that a constitutional declaration to restore the Southern Arab state will be announced today, to take effect starting from Sunday, January 2, 2028.

He also emphasized that the constitutional declaration will be immediately effective in the event of non-response to the proposed calls, or if the people of the South, their lands, or their forces face any military attacks, asserting that all options will remain on the table unless the demands of the South are taken into consideration within the time and political framework set by the Council and with the participation of the concerned parties and the international community.