Southern and Northern Allies Now Vie for Influence in Volatile Yemen

BY: FERNANDO CARVAJAL

Saudi-Houthi pause since April 2022, but peace unclear. STC seeks autonomy amid Yemen's diplomatic impasse.

[{"selector":"#anim-fd63ce43-367a-4e2c-90cd-be63eaf3510c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b32fcfd6-dc02-4f7d-a611-1b4927c74984","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d18a5f5-53c3-4991-93e1-39bd7c8b810e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.36334%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Yemen shocked. Houthis, al-Islah protest. Saudi-led coalition uneasy over southern parties' influence in PLC.

[{"selector":"#anim-4ab00cdf-019a-4ead-9fc7-76dc5ba4cee4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba30cf2e-12bd-4b5f-8b39-30426ddc45c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e94acceb-6194-40e4-b92b-eef2c02e6883","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.36334%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Saudi's response: Riaydh meetings with Hadhramaut rivals, forming National Hadhrami Council to counter STC.

[{"selector":"#anim-384aca76-09d0-4109-b43a-9230b15aa261 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5181ed0a-2e8b-4724-86fb-868978cd95ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7cf6a6c-647f-425e-b2a0-7242e65de0cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 122.59675%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

New People's High Council formed in central Yemen, seen as counter to STC's momentum. Tensions rise.

[{"selector":"#anim-87ebcc50-6a43-4151-a1aa-f82776af3622 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-190ab9f8-9ae1-4a32-be77-5fe92e3c80c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84fdeca9-e00f-4fbf-bc0d-e680ebd4f85a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

PLC's disregard for the southern issue sparked STC action, led to Aden dialogue, and southerners' unity.

[{"selector":"#anim-a16962d1-33dd-455c-a26a-2d385b9df494 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b154c0c8-a90c-4839-9e9c-d7ff2477b4ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e89d3d0e-cb6a-4e28-bdf2-789a7c54b2aa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

STC revamped leadership, including ex-rivals as co-vice presidents, bolstering southern influence within PLC.

[{"selector":"#anim-2389acb6-913b-45b7-9158-886afe281ea0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6f800c0-e796-474f-b38e-122fd6dfe6c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cf6dc17-802c-4700-afbc-29424f9a36bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 122.59675%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

STC's move: Cement southern PLC influence, counter al-Islah, and emphasize military leaders' roles in south.

[{"selector":"#anim-4ff1aa29-73c7-477c-a5d7-c8d3ce679f0e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f63d9a02-8acf-4909-afdf-fcf5e9881391","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2540939-52e3-4bfb-9ef4-47d3c8538f53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

STC dialogue success fuels concerns of southern secession, despite failed efforts to unite Houthi rivals.

[{"selector":"#anim-8624be15-4afa-45b3-bc6c-abd57aa61253 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 2.7581644055565207e-7%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4517df4-ece4-45cc-8337-ed8fdb6d7436","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1bc456ba-7fdf-4676-b1d7-23af0360d4b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.03382%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CLICK HERE TO READ

[{"selector":"#anim-6330d16f-40d6-4a7a-bc95-849f644c72f7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]