Yemen separatists expand control amid documented rights violations

Yemen's main southern separatist faction, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), is intensifying its military footprint despite calls from the internationally recognized government to withdraw. The group has expanded its control in the east and launched a new operation in the south, deepening fragmentation in the war-ravaged country.

Military advances and political rhetoric

The STC solidified its control over the crucial eastern province of Hadramout in early December following clashes with local tribal forces and army units. Days later, it extended its reach into neighboring Al-Mahra province. This week, its Security Belt Forces announced a fresh military campaign in Abyan province, claiming it aims to sever supply lines for "terrorist elements." Politically, STC President Aidrous al-Zubaidi met with parliament leadership in Aden, calling for a unified battle against the Houthi rebels while his local commanders in Hadramout labeled government forces an "occupation."

Documented abuses and calls for accountability

Amid this expansion, a Yemeni rights organization has accused STC forces of committing widespread abuses. The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms stated it documented 4,071 violations in Hadramout, including the killing of 35 soldiers, the execution of seven prisoners, and the arbitrary arrest of 268 civilians. The report also details the looting of over 160 homes and shops and the displacement of approximately 3,500 people. The network demanded an immediate halt to violations, the release of detainees, and an independent investigation.

A fractured state and regional implications

The STC, formed in 2017, seeks the secession of southern Yemen, citing historical marginalization—a claim the central government rejects. Its defiance of withdrawal orders from Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi underscores the severe weakness of the official state. Yemen now faces multiple fronts: a war against the northern Houthi rebels and an internal power struggle in the south that threatens permanent partition. This instability in a strategically vital region is monitored closely by nations like Türkiye, which supports Yemen's unity, territorial integrity, and a peaceful political resolution to its multilayered conflict.