Aden, Yemen – Southern political analyst Hani Mas’hour asserted that the South is not currently experiencing a period of hostility towards Yemen. Rather, it is undergoing a phase of political maturation and a courageous recognition of the emergence of two distinct paths, each with its own context, timeline, and priorities.
In a tweet on the X platform, Mashhour stated that what is happening is not a break, but rather the end of a long-held illusion. He emphasized that disengagement is not driven by anger or hatred, but is a realistic conclusion drawn from a long experience and an explicit respect for the will of the people.
He added that the South is not fleeing Yemen, nor disowning its neighbor, nor denying a shared history with all its pain and experience. However, it has reached a clear stage where it knows what it wants and what can no longer be sustained. He pointed out that a state is not a matter of emotion, and politics is not conducted through wishful thinking. A well-organized separation is more genuine than a unity imposed by force or denial.
Mashhour emphasized that the South is not closing the door to dialogue, but rather redefining it. He added, “It moves towards its future with the calm of the confident, not the clamor of the victor, leaving it to history to have the final say that transcendence sometimes lies in parting respectfully, so that the conflict does not continue forever.”
From a strategic perspective, Mashhour explained that the Southern Transitional Council’s declaration of a decisive counterterrorism operation in Abyan is linked to the council’s founding principles since its establishment in July 2017. He noted that the final statement of the council’s leadership meetings in Aden clearly outlined the southern project. The statement focused on banning extremist groups and organizations and eliminating environments that foster terrorism. It also emphasized linking the security of the south to regional and international security.
He added that what is happening today in Abyan comes after the strategic stage was set. First, by ending the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in Wadi Hadramawt and Al-Mahra. This dismantles the political and logistical cover that, for decades, constituted one of the most dangerous avenues for security breaches. Second, by moving to a phase of firm control in the governorates that have historically been used as soft ground for the activities of al-Qaeda and extremist organizations.
He emphasized that the decisive action is not a tactical decision. Rather, it is an advanced stage in a gradual strategy based on a clear principle: there can be no stable southern state without complete security sovereignty. Furthermore, there can be no security sovereignty while transnational groups or ideologically driven organizations exist.
Mashhour concluded by saying that the Southern Transitional Council is now fulfilling its commitments made in 2017. He emphasized that “the South will not be an open arena for terrorism, nor a pawn in the conflicts of others.” He added that what is happening in Abyan is a practical test of the state’s doctrine. Furthermore, a state that begins by eradicating terrorism and prioritizes security as the foundation of legitimacy will not achieve its goals.
