Yemeni government vows to confront southern rebellion

May 12, 2020

The Yemeni army will “do everything necessary” to thwart a separatist “insurrection” in the country’s south, the government said on Tuesday.

In April, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency and autonomous rule in the key port city of Aden and other southern provinces. The separatists, who are supported by the United Arab Emirates, accused Yemen’s internationally recognized government based in Aden of corruption and mismanagement.

The government then accused the UAE of sending an armed unit of separatists to Socotra, a remote island located off the coast of Somalia in the Arabian Sea. Abu Dhabi, which backs the separatists, is also nominal allies with the government and is part of the Saudi-led military coalition that is fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. 

Fighting in Socotra’s provincial capital between government forces and the separatist militia ended with a de-escalation agreement reached in early May between the two sides. 

“Yemen’s National Army will maintain firm posture heavy deployments to respond to attacks from insurgent [STC] militias,” Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Abdo Majali said Tuesday.