The people of South

التالى السابق

Restoring the Southern State

Analytics - 1 day ago

 The Only Guarantee for Stability in the Region

South Eye | Analysis - Exclusive

The Yemeni unification, declared on May 22, 1990, has long been one of the most mistaken political experiments in the region's history. Despite the slogans that accompanied it, reality soon revealed that it was an unfair merger & a political project driven by domination and exclusion. Today, after more than three decades of this unity, it has become evident that it has not delivered the promised stability. Instead, it has been a primary cause of the crises that continue to plague Yemen to this day. The South, which entered unity under clear conditions, quickly found itself marginalized economically and politically, with its voices suppressed. This culminated in the 1994 war, which imposed unity by force and established a system based on monopolization and oppression rather than partnership.

When Presidents Ali Salem Al-Beidh and Ali Abdullah Saleh announced the establishment of a unified Yemen, hopes were high for a modern state based on institutions that would guarantee rights and justice for all. However, the northern leadership's intentions soon became clear, as exclusion and marginalization of the South began, and Sana’a took full control of political and economic decision-making. The 1994 war turned unity into military occupation, with the South being overrun by force, its wealth plundered, and tens of thousands of its employees and military personnel dismissed. Northern elites took control of key government positions, fueling growing discontent among southerners. Since then, Yemen has never known stability. Wars continued, protest movements emerged, and political conflicts deepened, making the country one of the most fragile states in the world.

Despite decades of repression and marginalization, southerners have never lost faith in their right to restore their state. For years, national awareness in the South has grown significantly, and the Southern cause has become a central issue in the political landscape. What started as demands for self-determination has evolved into a comprehensive political project with strong public support under the leadership of Southern Transitional council (STC).

Today, it is undeniable that the South possesses organized military and political institutions. More than ever, its people are resolute in pursuing their right to self-determination. Of course this is never an emotional or populist stance, in fact it's a strategic choice dictated by the realities on the ground. The partnership has consistently failed to govern a unified state capable of ensuring stability, making the South’s independence the most logical solution.

Those who argue that keeping the South under forced unity is a means to ensure stability are misreading history and reality. The past decades have proven that imposing unity has only led to more wars and conflicts. Continued attempts to subjugate the South will only result in further conflicts. In contrast, restoring the Southern state within its internationally recognized pre-1990 borders is the only true path to stability. An independent Southern state would mean the end of perpetual conflict between the North and South. It would establish a relationship based on equal partnership between two states rather than one side dominating the other, a relationship that has only brought devastation. Moreover, restoring the Southern state will help reorganize Yemen’s political scene, allowing the North to rebuild itself independently, free from constant disputes with the South. This new balance would foster internal governance, reduce external interventions, and put an end to the draining conflicts that have weakened the entire country.

It is essential to emphasize that southerners have never been advocates of war. Their demand is for a sustainable resolution that guarantees their legitimate right to self-determination, in line with international laws and the UN’s principles of self-governance, because it's an absolute necessity for achieving security and development in the region. A stable South means a safe environment for investment, secure maritime routes, and a state that contributes to regional security rather than being a battlefield for continuous conflicts.

The  recent years have proven that solution imposed by pressure was never a solution it was the root of the problem. Today, it is impossible to ignore the will of southerners, who are now more aware and determined than ever to reclaim their state. Hence recognize the South’s right to restore its state and support this option is the most viable path to stability, because continue denying this reality, for sure will bring wars and instability as the history shows.