Socotra, Yemen – On Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Yemeni island of Socotra witnessed massive and angry protests. Thousands of residents of the archipelago participated, expressing their categorical rejection of the announcement dissolving the Southern Transitional Council. They affirmed their support for the council and its president, Aidarus al-Zubaidi, as the legitimate representative of the southern cause.
These popular movements followed an announcement by the Secretary-General of the Southern Transitional Council, Abdulrahman Jalal al-Subaie, from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on January 9th. He declared the dissolution of all the council’s bodies and institutions, purportedly to pave the way for a Saudi-sponsored South-South dialogue. This came amidst regional pressures and internal disputes within the council.
However, the announcement was met with widespread rejection from prominent leaders within the Southern Transitional Council, including its official spokesperson, Anwar al-Tamimi, and its vice president, Hani bin Breik. They described the decision as “imposed under pressure” and “lacking legitimacy,” emphasizing that the council can only be dissolved through a collective decision issued by its official institutions, not through a unilateral declaration from abroad.
Popular rejection of the dissolution decision extended to several southern governorates. The cities of Aden and Mukalla, along with Socotra, witnessed notable demonstrations and marches. Slogans were raised affirming the rejection of the “unilateral solution” imposed by Riyadh and reaffirming the Southern Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the southern cause. The demonstrations included chants such as: “The Council remains, and the cause remains,” and “Our mandate to al-Zubaidi continues.”
In Hadibu, the capital of the Socotra archipelago, angry demonstrations took to the main streets. The protesters chanted slogans condemning the decision and reaffirming their commitment to the southern cause. Widely circulated videos showed the size of the crowds and demonstrated the public’s outrage against any attempt to undermine the Southern Transitional Council.
