On Sunday, April 26, Yemen’s separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) proclaimed it would set self-rule regime in regions under their power.
However, the Saudi-backed government notifies it would lead to “catastrophic consequences”.
This action threatens to regain the confrontation between nominal allies in Yemen’s multifaceted war as the United Nations is trying to establish secure to a permanent truce to fight the coronavirus pandemic in a country weakened by hunger and disease.
As Reuters reports, the deployment of STC armed forces in Aden, the interim seat of the internationally recognised government backed by the Saudi-led military coalition that includes the STC, has been registered.
In a statement, the STC announced emergency rules in Aden and all southern governorates.
Last year, the STC, which is backed by Riyadh’s main coalition partner the United Arab Emirates, turned on the government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and seized Aden, with violence spilling over to other southern areas.
Saudi Arabia brokered a deal in November between them to form a more inclusive government and place all forces under state control, but the new cabinet has not been formed.
“The announcement by the so-called transitional council of its intention to establish a southern administration is a resumption of its armed insurgency… and an announcement of its rejection and complete withdrawal from the Riyadh agreement”, – Yemen’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami said in a ministry statement on Twitter.
The STC “will bear alone the dangerous and catastrophic consequences for such an announcement”, the statement said.