Southern Transitional Council

On April 27, 2017, a presidential decree was given by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi dismissing Aidarus al-Zoubaidi from his post as governor of Aden, due to his close ties with the UAE whom President Hadi described as “acting like occupiers” in the city [9]. This was met with large demonstrations in the city in support of the deposed but popular Zoubaidi [10].

With the help and support of the UAE, the STC was formed on May 11, 2017 with Aidarus al-Zoubaidi as it’s leader.[2] Immediately, President Hadi called the council illegitimate.[11][6][12][13]

Territorial situation in Yemen in 2019.

  Controlled by Southern Transitional Council

Beginning on 28 January 2018, separatists loyal to the STC seized control of the Yemeni government headquarters in Aden in a coup d'état against the Hadi government.[14][15]

In January 2018, as the head of the STC, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi announced a state of emergency in Aden and that "the STC has begun the process of overthrowing Hadi’s rule over the South".[16]

On 27 August 2019, tensions continued to escalate in southern Yemen after the UAE-backed Security Belt Forces (SBF) lost territories to troops loyal to the Saudi-backed government of President Hadi. The troops advanced on the capital Aden and instead of engaging in street fighting, took positions outside of the city in order to prevent civilian casualties.

On 29 August 2019, to stop government forces from advancing and reclaiming the capital, the UAE carried out air strikes on government positions outside of Aden, which killed and injured over 300 government soldiers.

Despite membership in the coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, the UAE fell out with Hadi's government after the former accused Hadi of aligning with the Islah party, a powerful party, which it viewed as ideologically close to the Muslim Brotherhood.[17]

The STC declared self-governance on 26 April 2020.[18] The government said local and security authorities in the provinces of Hadramawt, Abyan, Shabwa, al-Mahra, and the island of Socotra dismissed the move as a "clear and definite coup".[19] In Aden, the movement's attempt was successful, as it occupied all governmental institutions.[20]

The Presidential commission consists of 26 members, who are listed below.[21][22]

• Aidarus al-Zoubaidi – President of STC
• Hani Bin Breik – Vice President of STC
• Fadhl al-Ghadi – Governor of Dhale
• Lutfi Bashareef – Minister of Communications
• Murad al-Hallemy – Minister of Transportation
• Hamid Lamlas – Governor of Shabwah
• Nasser Al-Khobbaki – Governor of Lahij
• Ahmed bin Breik – Former Governor of Hadramaut
• Saleh Al-Awlaqi – Southern Parliamentarian
• Abdulhadi Shayif – Economist
• Abdullah Arefarar – Representative of Mahra and Socotra
• Abdurrab Al-Naqeep – Representative of Yafea (southwestern Abyan)
• Adnan Al-Kaaf – Deputy of Aden
• Ahmed Al-Socotry -Governor of Socotra
• Mona Basharaheed – Professor of literature
• Aqel al-Attas – Activist
• Lutfi Shatara -Journalist
• Sahair Ali – Professor of Law
• Ahmed Bamuallem -Brigadier General, representative from Hadramaut.
• Abdurahman Shaikh- Deputy of Aden
• Salem al-Awlaqi – Activist
• Ameen Saleh – Activist
• Nasser Assadi – Brigadier General, Activist
• Ali Ashaibah – Brigadier General, Activist
• Niran Suqi – Jurist
• Ali Al-Kathiri – Representative from SLA party

• Southern Movement
• Yemeni Socialist Party
• South Yemen insurgency