Southern Transitional Council

Armed faction in Yemeni Civil War

Follow Southern Transitional Council on Notably News to receive short updates to your email — rarely!

January 7 2026 Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council forces recaptured Abyan and Shabwah governorates, further rolling back the STC's recent territorial expansion.
January 4 2026 Saudi air strikes on STC positions enabled Saudi-backed forces to fully retake control of Hadhramawt and Al Mahrah governorates, effectively defeating the STC's territorial expansion.
January 2 2026 Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council forces reclaim some territory from the STC in Hadhramaut Governorate, following Saudi air strikes on STC positions.
January 2 2026 The Southern Transitional Council (STC) published a constitutional declaration for the State of South Arabia, covering the historical borders of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaid announced the constitution would be in effect for two years, with a planned referendum on self-determination afterward. The declaration was to take immediate effect if dialogue fails or if military attack occurs.
January 1 2026 STC continues to maintain territorial control over most of the former South Yemen region.
December 21 2025 Rashad al-Alimi, chair of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, responded to the ministers' statements by claiming they exceeded their responsibilities and threatened legal action against those undermining state authority.
December 21 2025 STC leader Aidarus al-Zoubaidi declared that the 'next stage will be the stage of building institutions of the future state of South Arabia', signaling the STC's continued push for southern independence.
December 8 2025 STC successfully captured most of the territory in the 6 southern governorates during their offensive and declared intentions to advance towards Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital.
December 8 2025 By this date, the STC had captured most of the territory in the six southern governorates, significantly expanding its territorial control.
December 8 2025 In the aftermath of the offensive, Presidential Leadership Council chair Rashad al-Alimi and prime minister Salem Saleh bin Braik departed from Aden and traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
December 8 2025 The STC declared its intention to continue advancing militarily, with the stated goal of capturing Sanaa, which is currently held by the Houthi forces.
December 8 2025 STC captured most of the territory comprising the 6 governorates of the former South Yemen.
December 2 2025 The STC launched an offensive across southern Yemen.
September 2025 Ahmed Zoubaidi, a representative of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), gave an interview indicating the organization's potential future diplomatic stance, suggesting they would likely recognize Israel and join the Abraham Accords if they achieved an independent state.
September 25 2025 STC president Aidarus al-Zubaidi called for a 'two-state solution' to the Yemeni civil war, arguing that the country was effectively already divided.
May 26 2024 Armed individuals affiliated with the STC and Southern Women Union seized the Yemeni Women Union centre in Aden, expelling staff and residents and blocking access to the shelter for gender-based violence survivors.
March 2024 Sami Yassin Ka'id Marsh was transferred to Aden's Bir Ahmad prison, where a leaked photograph showed him seriously ill in a hospital bed.
2023 STC authorities in Aden introduced restrictive regulations requiring permits for public activities by civil society organizations, imposing extensive reporting obligations and potentially limiting organizational funding.
December 2023 The Southern Transitional Council reportedly expressed willingness to cooperate with Israel to fight against Houthi ship attacks.
November 16 2023 Lawyer Sami Yassin Ka'id Marsh was arrested by STC security forces while leaving work, detained without charge at the al-Nasr military camp, and held incommunicado.
May 2023 STC head Aidarus al-Zoubaidi convened the Southern Congress to initiate a national dialogue and reconciliation process, with the primary aim of strengthening Southern territories against Houthi aggression.
May 2023 STC increased its political influence by reorganizing its membership to secure three out of eight positions in the Presidential Leadership Council.
May 4 2023 STC congress held, adopting the 'Southern National Pact' demanding incorporation of the Southern Movement in the Yemeni peace process.
April 2022 The STC joined the Presidential Leadership Council after President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi's resignation. STC head Aidarus al-Zoubaidi became the Vice President of the new government.
December 2020 A new unity government was formed with equal representatives from northern and southern Yemen, mediated by Saudi Arabia to end internal conflicts.
April 26 2020 The STC declared self-governance in Aden, successfully occupying all governmental institutions while being dismissed as a 'coup' by other provinces.
November 5 2019 The Southern Transitional Council (STC) signed the Riyadh Agreement with the Yemeni government, which recognized the STC's legitimacy and allowed them into the government in exchange for withdrawing militarily from Aden and reducing security control in southern Yemen.
August 29 2019 The UAE carried out airstrikes on government positions outside of Aden, killing and injuring over 300 government soldiers.
August 27 2019 Tensions escalated in southern Yemen as UAE-backed Security Belt Forces lost territories to troops loyal to the Saudi-backed government.
January 2018 Aidarus al-Zoubaidi announced a state of emergency in Aden and declared the STC's intention to overthrow Hadi's rule over the South.
January 28 2018 STC separatists seized control of the Yemeni government headquarters in Aden in a coup d'état against the Hadi government.
May 11 2017 The Southern Transitional Council (STC) was officially declared, with Aidarus al-Zoubaidi as president and Hani Bin Breik as vice-president. The council was formed by a faction of the Southern Movement and seeks the separation of southern Yemen from the rest of the nation.
May 4 2017 Aidarus al-Zoubaidi delivered the 'Aden Historic Declaration' speech in Aden's Freedom Square.
April 27 2017 President Hadi dismissed Aidarus al-Zoubaidi from his post as governor of Aden Governorate due to his close ties with the United Arab Emirates.

This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia article Southern Transitional Council, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

See Also