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Political Statement Issued by the Southern Transitional Council of South Arabia

REPORTS - منذ ساعتان

Aden | Eye of the South. 

On the Occasion of the Ninth Anniversary of the Historic Aden Declaration and the Popular Mandate

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

" Allah will certainly help those who stand up for Him. Allah is truly All-Powerful, Almighty."

O great masses of our People of the South at home and abroad,

O free People of the South from Al-Mahra to Bab al-Mandab,

O heroes of our Southern Armed Forces, makers of glory and defenders of the land,

O our friends in the Regional and International Community,

On this Enduring National Occasion, the People of the South recall with pride and honor the ninth anniversary of the issuance of the Historic Aden Declaration on May 4, 2017— a pivotal moment in which the Southern Popular Will expressed itself clearly, establishing a new political trajectory grounded in Popular Mandate, unified decision-making, and the protection of the project to Restore the State.

This Popular Mandate granted to President Aidarous Al-Zubaidi constituted a turning point in the history of the South, transitioning its Cause from a phase of dispersed revolutionary action to one of Organized Political Engagement. It laid the foundations for a National Leadership that assumed responsibility for representing the South and defending the aspirations of its people, amid complex and intertwined challenges at both the domestic and international levels.

Over the past years, the People of the South have demonstrated steadfast adherence to their national choice and firm support for their political leadership, despite facing severe economic hardships, political pressures, and systematic targeting. This has affirmed that the Popular Mandate was NOT a fleeting moment, but rather a continuous expression of a Collective Will striving to achieve its legitimate goal of Restoring the State and building a secure and stable future.

However, we affirm with clarity: none of those attempts have weakened us; rather, they have redefined the nature of the struggle and reinforced our people’s conviction that restoring their state is no longer a choice, but an Existential Necessity.

From this platform, we deliver clear messages:

First (To the People of the South):

The mandate you granted was not a symbolic one; rather, it was a responsible covenant and a solemn, binding pact. By renewing today this covenant and pact through your presence in this square, you have cut off the path to the enemies of your Cause and safeguarded your mandate. As for your Cause, you have proven that you are the true guarantor of this project, and that your will is stronger than all pressures.

Second (To our brothers in the region):

Attempts to break our Collective Will and to target our Southern Armed Forces will not alter the reality in any way; rather, they will only make us more cohesive and resilient. The South will not be an open arena for projects of tutelage, chaos, or terrorism. Accordingly, the South today will neither be a sphere of influence nor a space for managing proxy wars; it has become a political actor that possesses its own will and decision.

Any policies or measures that undermine our forces or weaken our national institutions will not contribute to achieving stability; rather, they will lead to further complications and create an enabling environment for terrorist projects. Therefore, the Stability of the South constitutes a fundamental pillar for the stability of the region, and any infringement upon it threatens the security of vital maritime routes and the balance of regional and international security.

On this basis, relations with our regional surroundings must be built on mutual respect for interests and sovereignty, not on the imposition of tutelage or the circumvention of the Collective Will of the people of the South.

The Southern Transitional Council also condemns the blatant Iranian aggression against the countries of the Arabian Gulf, rejects any threat to their security and stability, and affirms its full solidarity with them and respect for their sovereignty.

Fourth (To the international community):

The Southern Transitional Council affirms, in its capacity as a Popular Representative, that it has consistently rejected violence, terrorism, and extremism. The Southern Armed Forces have undertaken a pivotal role in combating terrorism and securing maritime routes, thereby contributing to the strengthening of regional and international security. This makes the stability of the South a key factor in the stability of the region and the world, which necessitates clear and direct support for its national political, military, and security institutions, and the enhancement of their capacities to safeguard regional and global interests.

Within the context of the political settlement process, the Southern Transitional Council emphasizes that any peace process that does not address the Southern National Cause through a just and comprehensive solution reflecting the will of the people of the South will not lead to sustainable stability. It further stresses the necessity of recognizing it as a principal and active party in any negotiations, and of ensuring full institutional representation of the South at all stages of any forthcoming settlement.

Accordingly, ignoring its representation or circumventing its will will Not lead to peace; rather, it will reproduce crises.

Based on these premises, the Southern Transitional Council of South Arabia affirms the following:

1- The speech delivered by President Aidarous Al-Zubaidi on May 3 constitutes a comprehensive strategic document outlining the vision of the Southern Transitional Council and a roadmap for a path toward a lasting, comprehensive, and sustainable peace.

2- The legitimacy of the Southern Transitional Council is a renewed popular legitimacy, and it is the exclusive foundation for representing the Political Will of the People of the South.

3- Adherence to the Political Statement and the Constitutional Declaration issued on January 2, 2026 represents a roadmap for resolving the crisis between the North and the South, away from externally imposed solutions.

4- The Southern Transitional Council cannot be bypassed in any political process, as it is the bearer and the unifying national and political framework for the Cause of the People of the South. Any political settlement that does not recognize the South as a principal and equal party, and does not guarantee its full participation in its formulation, is a Rejected Settlement.

5- The restoration of the Independent State of the South, with full sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders prior to May 21, 1990, is a fixed strategic objective that is non-negotiable and not subject to delay. It is further affirmed that the South constitutes a single political, geographical, historical, and legal entity that is not subject to fragmentation or division.

6- The Southern Armed Forces are a Red Line; preserving their unity, cohesion, national doctrine, and command authority is a sovereign matter that is not subject to compromise.

7- Based on the contents of the Political Statement and the Constitutional Declaration, and grounded in historical continuity while reinforcing the Southern National Identity within its Arab framework, the Southern Transitional Council affirms the adoption of the full designation: The Southern Transitional Council of South Arabia.

8- We appeal to the International Community and International Organizations concerned with Human Rights and public Political Freedoms to urgently intervene to conduct independent investigations into all crimes and acts of aggression committed since early January 2026, hold perpetrators accountable, halt violations and crimes, cease the issuance of compulsory arrest warrants and the closure of the relevant premises.

9- A call to the International Community to support the Southern Military and Security Institutions and counterterrorism efforts, as they are a key partner in achieving Regional and International Security, particularly in safeguarding maritime navigation in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab.

10- Upholding National Principles and the Gains achieved by the Southern Transitional Council as gains belonging to the People of the South.

11- This statement constitutes a direct expression of the Collective Will of the People of the South and a Governing Political Reference for the Southern position. It further reaffirms the Historic Aden Declaration, the Southern National Charter, the Political Statement, and the Constitutional Declaration of January 2, 2026. It also serves as a Renewed and Effective Mandate for President Aidarous, by the Will of the Arab people of the South, who are the source of legitimacy and decision-making authority.

O great People of the South,

This phase is not one of retreat, but a phase of political decisiveness and the consolidation of rights.

The South, which has made sacrifices and asserted itself on the ground, WILL NOT accept a return to marginalization or tutelage.

We move forward with you, and through you, toward restoring our Fully Sovereign Southern State— with an Unbreakable Will and an Unwavering Stance.

Glory and eternity to our righteous martyrs

Swift recovery to our wounded

Freedom to our detainees

Issued by:

The Southern Transitional Council of South Arabia

Aden – Capital

May 4, 2026