Yemen’s southern separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has welcomed a call by Saudi Arabia for dialogue, raising hopes of easing tensions in an unusually public dispute between Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement on Saturday, the UAE-backed STC described the Saudi initiative as a “genuine opportunity for serious dialogue” that could help protect what it called the aspirations of southern Yemenis. The move comes as fighting and political rivalries have deepened fractures within the Saudi-led coalition battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The conciliatory tone followed rapid gains by Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government, which said it had retaken Mukalla, the key eastern port city and capital of Hadramout province, from STC forces who seized it last month. Government advances since Friday have reversed many of the separatists’ recent territorial gains and cast doubt on the STC’s plan to hold a referendum on southern independence within two years.
Saudi-backed forces have also secured other strategic areas in Hadramout, a vast province bordering Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, STC fighters reportedly blocked major roads linking Aden to northern provinces. The separatist group appealed for regional and international intervention, accusing Saudi-backed forces of military escalation and alleging that northern Islamist factions, a reference to the Islah party within the government, had targeted civilians and infrastructure.
The UAE, the STC’s main backer, urged restraint, saying it was deeply concerned by the escalation. Yemen’s conflict has long been shaped by rival regional interests, with the country occupying a strategic position near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route linking Europe and Asia.
Despite its separatist ambitions, the STC has for years been part of the internationally recognised government that controls southern and eastern Yemen with Gulf support against the Houthis. Overnight, Presidential Council chief Rashad al-Alimi said he had asked Saudi Arabia to host a forum to address the “southern issue” and bring together all southern factions.
Tensions have also disrupted air travel. Aden airport, the main hub for areas outside Houthi control, was closed on Thursday after a dispute over new government restrictions on flights involving the UAE. Officials said flights are expected to resume on Sunday. Both Saudi Arabia and the STC have blamed each other for the suspension, while the STC accused Riyadh of imposing a land, sea and air blockade on southern Yemen.