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Yemen's Southern Separatists Backing Off From Self-Rule Declaration

Dale Gavlak

   AMMAN, JORDAN - Long-time Yemen watcher, analyst Helen Lackner, says
   southern separatists likely will walk back their threat to reopen
   another dangerous front in the impoverished country's five-year civil
   war. The threat, condemned by their financial backer, the United Arab
   Emirates, is expected to flounder given a lack of support. Meanwhile,
   the country already is ravaged by hunger and cholera, and now is
   fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

   The United Arab Emirates announced April 25 it does not support a
   decision by the Southern Transitional Council, known as the STC, to
   declare self-rule in areas it controls in Yemen. The Emirates Minister
   of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash also said at the time the
   UAE urges the full implementation of a peace deal for the south agreed
   upon last year, known as the Riyadh Agreement.

   The UAE financially backs the separatist STC group and is a key player
   in the Saudi-led coalition, which is fighting the Iranian-supported
   Houthi movement in Yemen. British Yemen expert Helen Lackner says the
   UAE may be withholding funds to the southern separatist group, which
   controls Aden.

   "Is the UAE continuing to pay? The main complaint of the STC, and
   that's their main reason having made their declaration, is that their
   people are not being paid," Lackner said. "The military and security
   guys not being paid are pretty likely to change sides. I think the
   reason the STC made that decision and publicize was partly to improve
   their image, because their image had suffered considerably as a result
   of their inaction in connection with floods and the coronavirus."

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