Sana’a/Cairo, Dec 28, (dpa/GNA) – Loyalists of a Yemeni separatist faction held a massive rally pushing for independence of the country’s southern region on Sunday, a day after Saudi Arabia threatened action against the group backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Earlier this month, forces aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) took over large chunks previously controlled by the Saudi-backed government in the provinces of Hadramaut and al-Mahra, which together make up around half of Yemen’s territory, reigniting tensions in the war-torn country.
The STC and the government have been allied for years in the fight against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. However, the STC has repeatedly defied its partners as it seeks to control larger areas of Yemen and demands secession of the country’s southern region.
On Saturday, a Saudi-led alliance requested the withdrawal of the STC forces, threatening to retaliate against military movements undermining de-escalation efforts in Yemen.
STC-affiliated media outlets reported that tens of thousands of the group’s supporters gathered on Sunday in Seiyun, a key city in Hadramaut, and rejected the call for STC forces to withdraw from the oil-rich province, instead calling for the region’s independence.
The impoverished country has been embroiled in a devastating power struggle since 2014 between government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis, who control large swathes of territory in the north, including the capital Sana’a.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE support the fight against the Houthis in Yemen, but they are seen as regional rivals.
The STC accused Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes against its forces in Hadramaut on Friday. Riyadh has so far not commented on the accusations.
GNA