Yemeni Government and Houthis Condemn Formation of Council for Separation of Southern Yemen

The Yemeni government and its opposing Shiite militia condemned the formation of a new council in the southern regions of the country aimed at separating Southern Yemen from Northern Yemen. According to Reuters, the Yemeni government announced on Friday, May 12, that the establishment of the new council 'targets the interests of the people and the future social fabric of Yemen.' The Shiite Houthi militants described the new council as a 'colonial scheme' that threatens 'the territorial unity of the Republic of Yemen.' The international community recognizes the government led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi as the legitimate government of Yemen, although Mr. Hadi's government has ceded control of Sana'a, the capital, to the Iran-backed Houthi militants in recent years. The Yemeni government then moved to Aden in the south of the country, but the newly announced formation has also declared Aden as its center. On Thursday, May 11, Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the former governor of Aden, announced the formation of a council aimed at establishing 'political and national leadership' in 'Southern Yemen' under his presidency. Reuters reported that the formation of such a council will further worsen the situation in the crisis-stricken country of Yemen. The Saudi-led military coalition, which is fighting against the Shiite Houthi militants in support of the Yemeni government, has not yet commented on the new council. According to AFP, the self-proclaimed new council has 26 members, including governors of southern Yemeni provinces and two government ministers. Southern Yemen was an independent state until 1990 when it united with Northern Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen. However, four years later, it launched an armed movement against the northern regions that was suppressed. Yemen has been the scene of conflicts among various groups for years; from the Shiite Houthi militants, who have the support of the Islamic Republic and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to groups like al-Qaeda, local tribes, forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and the Saudi-led international coalition. On Friday, the International Organization for Migration under the United Nations warned that any attack on the port of Hodeidah in Yemen could lead to the displacement of 400,000 people. The port of Hodeidah is located in western Yemen, on the Red Sea coast, near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. Control of this port is in the hands of the Shiite Houthi militants.