Saudi Arabia positions southern leader in Aden amid absence of STC’s Aidarous al-Zubaidi

ADEN, Oct. 05 (YPA) – Saudi Arabia has facilitated the return of a prominent Southern Yemeni leader to Aden, positioning him to fill a political void following the prolonged absence of Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed dissolved Southern Transitional Council (STC), who has not made a public appearance since last January.

Salah al-Shanfara, head of the Supreme Council of the Southern Movement (Al-Hiraak), confirmed via Facebook his return to Aden from the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Al-Shanfara, who hails from the Dhalea governorate, stated that his return comes amid “rapid developments on the frontlines” aimed at confronting Sanaa-aligned forces. He noted that most other Southern leaders remain restricted from returning to Aden due to their refusal to engage STC-aligned factions in hostilities against Sanaa forces.

The return of al-Shanfara—who had been placed under house arrest in Riyadh since early this year—appears intended to manage the political landscape in Aden following Saudi Arabia’s dissolution of the STC and the dismissal of al-Zubaidi from the Presidential Leadership Council on charges of treason. The political shift follows Saudi airstrikes targeting Southern military elements in Hadramout Governorate, which resulted in over 1,000 casualties.

Relations between the two figures have been historically strained. Last year, al-Shanfara mobilized supporters during the October 14 Revolution commemoration in Dhalea, leading to the ejection of al-Zubaidi from the event amid popular protests.

YPA