Minister in Aden government displays STC flag at official meeting

ADEN, Feb. 25 (YPA) – A minister in the Saudi-funded Aden government sparked widespread controversy on Wednesday after appearing at his first official meeting at the ministry with a secessionist flag displayed behind him.

Mokhtar Al-Yafei, the newly appointed Minister of Social Affairs, was seen during a meeting at the ministry’s headquarters with the flag of the former “State of the South” prominently positioned in the background — a move observers said carried significant political implications.

Al-Yafei is a senior figure in the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) and was included in the newly formed government. He is considered aligned with the faction led by the STC’s head Aidarous Al-Zubaidi.

The incident came amid renewed debate over the stance of several STC-affiliated ministers who continue to refrain from raising the flag of the Republic of Yemen, despite having taken the constitutional oath to uphold the country’s unity and territorial integrity.

The move triggered angry reactions among figures associated with the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Rashad Al-Alimi.