Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is said to be backed by the United Arab Emirates, has been rapidly advancing [13] through large parts [14] of the country's south and east, in Hadramawt, al-Mahra and Shabwa provinces. They are taking over control from groups backed by Saudi Arabia [15], including the Hadramawt Tribal Alliance (HTA). While all forces involved are supposed to be on the same side in a broader anti-Houthi alliance, the move is yet another reminder that Yemen's war is not over [16], and that it involves a variety of actors and local grievances [17]. (TNH [19])
The STC was excluded from the peace talks [20] between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia that opened in 2023. It has been widely accused of human rights violations [21], including running clandestine prisons [22] in conjunction with UAE forces. It declared self-rule [23] in its areas of control in 2020.
