Source: Anadolu Agency
SANAA — Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced on Friday that it has formally dissolved itself, along with all of its main and subsidiary bodies, and has shut down all its offices inside and outside the country, in a dramatic move ahead of a planned southern dialogue conference in Riyadh.
According to a statement carried by Saba Net, Yemen’s state-run news agency, the decision was taken as part of preparations to participate in a comprehensive southern dialogue that will be held under Saudi sponsorship. The conference is expected to bring together a wide range of southern political figures, tribal leaders, and civil society representatives to discuss the future of southern Yemen and possible frameworks for resolving long-standing political disputes.
In its statement, the STC acknowledged that it had failed to achieve the objectives for which it was originally established. The council admitted that its political and organizational efforts did not deliver the outcomes sought by its supporters, particularly in advancing the southern cause through unity and effective governance.
The group also distanced itself from recent military developments in eastern Yemen, stating that it was not involved in the decision to launch military operations in the provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahra. The STC said those actions had negatively impacted the southern cause and contributed to further instability in the region, rather than advancing southern political aspirations.
By dissolving itself, the council said it aims to remove obstacles to inclusive dialogue and demonstrate goodwill ahead of the Riyadh talks. The statement emphasized that the move was intended to create a new political environment that allows for open discussion, reconciliation, and the formation of a unified southern vision without the constraints of existing political structures.
The STC called on southern political leaders, activists, and influential figures to actively engage in the upcoming dialogue process. It expressed hope that the Riyadh conference would result in a clear and realistic roadmap for addressing the southern issue, including questions related to governance, political representation, and the future status of southern Yemen within the country.
Saudi Arabia, which has played a central mediating role in Yemen’s conflict, is expected to oversee the dialogue as part of broader efforts to stabilize the country and reduce internal divisions among anti-Houthi factions. Observers say the dissolution of the STC could either open the door to greater consensus among southern groups or create a political vacuum if no alternative framework emerges.
The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts to revive peace talks in Yemen, where years of conflict have left the country deeply fragmented along political, regional, and military lines. Analysts note that the success of the Riyadh dialogue will depend on the willingness of southern factions to compromise and on regional sponsors’ ability to support an inclusive and sustainable political process.
