Aden crowds back Yemen’s STC as it recasts itself around Arab identity

ADEN – Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) said it has formally changed its name to the Arab South Transitional Council, emphasising Arab identity as it renewed calls for southern independence during a mass rally in Aden.

The announcement, made in a political statement marking the ninth anniversary of the May 4, 2017 Aden Declaration, reflects what the council described as continuity with its founding mandate while reinforcing “southern national identity within its Arab framework.”

“Based on the content of the political declaration and constitutional announcement … the Southern Transitional Council adopts the full designation: Arab South Transitional Council,” the statement said.

Thousands gathered in Aden’s Al-Oroudh Square on Monday for the anniversary rally, with participants arriving from multiple southern provinces and waving flags associated with a future southern state. Demonstrators called for self-determination and independence in what organisers described as a renewal of popular support.

STC president Aidarous al-Zubaidi said the founding moment of 2017 represented a “historic mandate” and reaffirmed commitment to a political process based on dialogue, while rejecting any outcomes that do not reflect the will of southern Yemenis.

The move comes at a sensitive time for the STC, which has faced internal divisions and shifting alliances. Some leaders announced its dissolution in January, although the group has continued to operate and mobilise supporters.

Officials within the council acknowledged recent tensions following developments earlier this year in which forces gained control over parts of southern territory, complicating relations with former allies.

Ibtisam Abdullah Saleh, a senior STC official, called on the international community to respect southern aspirations, saying the demand for statehood is a legitimate right.

The STC, which seeks to restore a separate state in southern Yemen, has long been a key player in the country’s fragmented political landscape. Its rebranding signals an attempt to consolidate identity and reposition itself politically amid ongoing uncertainty over Yemen’s future.

Analysts say the emphasis on Arab identity may be aimed at broadening regional support and framing the southern cause within a wider geopolitical context, as the group seeks to maintain momentum despite internal and external challenges.