Yemen(The COW News Digital)Yemen’s southern separatist movement, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has announced a two-year plan aimed at establishing an independent southern state, marking a significant escalation in the country’s long-running political and territorial crisis.
In a formal statement, the STC said the roadmap includes drafting and adopting a new constitution for southern Yemen. The group emphasized that the move should not be viewed merely as secession, but as a step toward what it described as “full sovereignty” for the south. The announcement reflects the STC’s long-standing ambition to restore a separate southern state, which existed prior to Yemen’s unification in 1990.
The separatist body also declared its intention to hold a referendum on independence, allowing residents of the southern regions to decide their political future. While no specific timeline for the vote was announced, the declaration has raised concerns among regional and international observers about the potential for renewed instability in an already fragile country.
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The political announcement comes amid heightened military tensions. Just a day earlier, airstrikes reportedly killed seven fighters affiliated with the STC. According to a foreign news agency, an STC official claimed that the strikes were carried out by the Saudi-led military coalition, which has been involved in Yemen’s conflict since 2015.
If confirmed, the incident would mark the first reported fatalities from airstrikes following the STC’s recent expansion of control in eastern Yemen. Last month, STC forces took over large parts of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah provinces, regions considered strategically important due to their size, resources, and access to the Arabian Sea.
Witnesses cited by international media reported that the airstrikes targeted a military base and the airport in the city of Seiyun, located in Hadramout province. The attacks underscore the increasingly complex dynamics of Yemen’s conflict, where shifting alliances and competing territorial claims continue to fuel violence.
The Saudi-led coalition has not officially commented on the allegations, but the reported strikes have intensified speculation about growing rifts between forces that were once aligned against the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict for nearly a decade, with multiple factions vying for power amid one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Analysts warn that the STC’s push for an independent southern state could further fragment the country and complicate efforts toward a comprehensive political settlement.
As the STC moves forward with its plans, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with political decisions increasingly intertwined with military developments. The coming months are likely to test not only Yemen’s unity but also the stability of the broader region.
