Yemeni Southern Separatists Claim STC Disbanded in Riyadh, Move Triggers Sharp Dispute

What happened: A faction of Yemeni southern separatists meeting in Riyadh announced the disbanding of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Why it matters now: The STC is a key power broker in southern Yemen and a partner in the internationally recognised government, making the claim politically explosive.

What changes for people: Any shift inside the STC could affect governance, security coordination, and public services in southern regions.

Who is affected: Southern Yemen, the Yemeni government, Saudi Arabia, and regional actors involved in Yemen’s fragile political process.

A group of Yemeni southern separatists convened in Riyadh has announced that the Southern Transitional Council (STC) has been disbanded, a declaration that was immediately challenged by senior STC leaders and allied officials. The competing claims have exposed deep internal rifts at a sensitive moment for Yemen’s already fractured political landscape.

The announcement was circulated by figures identifying themselves as part of the southern movement in exile, who said the decision was taken during closed-door discussions in the Saudi capital. However, the STC leadership rejected the move, saying the group behind the statement lacks legal and political authority to dissolve the body.

Why the STC matters in Yemen’s power structure

The STC, formed in 2017, positions itself as the main representative of southern Yemeni aspirations, including calls for autonomy or independence. It controls significant territory and armed forces in the south and is a signatory to the Saudi-brokered Riyadh Agreement, which integrated it into a power-sharing arrangement with Yemen’s recognised government.

Because of this role, any claim that the STC has been dissolved carries serious implications for security, governance, and regional diplomacy.