The fate of the separatist leader in southern Yemen, Aidarous al-ZubaidiHis absence on a scheduled flight to Riyadh, where talks were to be held on the future of southern Saudi Arabia, exacerbated the political and security crisis in the region on Wednesday, as tensions persist between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He reignited fears of a prolonged escalation of the conflict.
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) asserted that Zubaidi was in Aden to oversee military and security operations, rejecting accusations that he had fled. However, the movement acknowledged losing contact with its political delegation sent to Saudi Arabia, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations.
On the Saudi side, the coalition supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government claimed that Zubaidi had deliberately missed his flight and accused him of moving armed forces and distributing weapons with the aim of sowing discord. Government forces were simultaneously advancing toward Aden, according to Saudi media, fueling fears of renewed clashes.
This sequence of events has dashed hopes for a swift resolution to the recent fighting in southern Yemen. Above all, it highlights the growing rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, two pillars of the coalition originally formed to fight the Houthis, who are supported by Iran. The differences between the two Gulf powers, already evident in other regional issues, are now playing out openly on the ground in Yemen.
The Saudi-backed presidential council announced it had dismissed Zubaidi from his post and referred him to the courts on charges including high treason. He is accused of inciting armed rebellion, attacking constitutional institutions, and committing atrocities against civilians in the south of the country.
Created in 2017 with the support of the United Arab Emirates, the STC had eventually become part of the governing coalition controlling southern and eastern Yemen. But the sudden seizure of vast territories by its forces last month has upset the fragile balance of power, now pitting Riyadh against Abu Dhabi head-on. Recent Saudi airstrikes in the south of the country underscore the gravity of the crisis, while any prospect of de-escalation currently appears compromised.
