The Yemeni president reaffirms Saudi-backed dialogue on the southern question, while the former presidential council member calls for mobilization and recognition of southern independence amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Two speeches marking the 63rd anniversary of Yemen’s October 14 Revolution highlighted competing political agendas as government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, continue their Dawn of Yemen offensive against the Houthis.

President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi reaffirmed his determination to restore state institutions and bring all weapons and decisions of war and peace under constitutional authority. Meanwhile, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), renewed calls for an independent southern state within its pre-1990 borders.

Al-Alimi: Ending the Houthi Threat Is an Irreversible Decision

In his address, Al-Alimi declared that the Dawn of Yemen operation would continue until the Houthi insurgency is ended and state authority restored, describing the decision as irreversible regardless of the sacrifices required.

He praised the role of the Giants Brigades, Nation’s Shield Forces and other military formations in supporting operations against the Houthis, particularly around the besieged city of Taiz.

The president also ordered government agencies to mobilize humanitarian assistance for Taiz, including food, medicine and support for displaced families, while working to reopen vital roads and secure supply routes.

Addressing the southern question, Al-Alimi reaffirmed his commitment to a just settlement through Saudi-sponsored South-South dialogue, aimed at addressing historical grievances, respecting popular will and safeguarding political rights.

He stressed that the security of Aden and Hadramout could not be separated from developments in Taiz and Marib, describing the Houthi threat as a danger to Yemenis in both north and south.

Al-Zubaidi Calls for Mobilization and Southern Independence

In a separate anniversary address, Al-Zubaidi called for public mobilization across southern Yemen and renewed his demand for the restoration of an independent southern state within the borders that existed before Yemen’s unification on May 22, 1990.

He urged Saudi Arabia and the international community to recognize the constitutional declaration and political statement issued by the STC in January 2026.

Al-Zubaidi also called for mass demonstrations in Aden, Hadramout, Shabwa, Al-Mahra and Socotra, alongside mobilization extending from Al-Mahra to Bab al-Mandab and from Socotra to Mayyun Island.

His address linked the southern independence project to regional security concerns, including the Houthi threat and the protection of international shipping routes.

Al-Zubaidi was removed from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council in January 2026 and referred for prosecution on charges including high treason. The Saudi-led coalition subsequently announced that he had traveled to the United Arab Emirates with Emirati assistance.

Saudi Arabia at the Center of Both Speeches

Saudi Arabia featured prominently in both addresses, although the two leaders presented different political approaches.

Al-Alimi praised Riyadh’s military, economic and humanitarian support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. He condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian facilities, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and emphasized that Saudi and Yemeni security were closely interconnected.

He also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s role in sponsoring dialogue over the future of southern Yemen.

Al-Zubaidi, meanwhile, appealed directly to Riyadh to recognize the STC’s independence project, while presenting southern forces as partners in confronting the Houthis and protecting Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden.

UAE Interests and the Timing of Al-Zubaidi’s Return

Al-Zubaidi’s renewed political activity from the UAE comes as Houthi attacks target Riyadh and Saudi Arabia intensifies its support for the Dawn of Yemen offensive.

The timing raises questions about Abu Dhabi’s interests in reviving the southern secession issue while Riyadh is focused on military operations against the Houthis.

The renewed prominence of the STC could serve Emirati interests by preserving its political influence in southern Yemen, maintaining leverage over future security arrangements and positioning its local allies for negotiations over the post-war political order.

The southern question also intersects with the strategic importance of Aden, the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab, where control over coastal territory and maritime access remains central to regional security calculations.

Political Background

The competing addresses come amid a military campaign intended to restore government authority across Yemen, including territories held by the Houthis.

Al-Alimi has framed Dawn of Yemen as part of a broader effort to rebuild state institutions, restore constitutional authority and prevent armed groups from exercising independent control over military decisions.

Al-Zubaidi’s renewed independence demands place the southern political question back on the agenda as Saudi-backed forces continue operations against the Houthis.

The two speeches therefore outline different approaches to Yemen’s future: one centered on restoring state authority and resolving the southern question through Saudi-sponsored dialogue, and the other seeking recognition of an independent southern state.

The renewed debate over southern independence adds a political dimension to an already complex military campaign, with Saudi Arabia’s security priorities, Emirati interests and the future governance of southern Yemen increasingly intertwined.