Aden, Yemen – Anwar al-Tamimi, the official spokesperson for the Southern Transitional Council, stated that the remarks made by Yemeni Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa al-Numan regarding the possibility of an alliance with the Houthi group under the pretext of protecting national unity represent a dangerous development. This constitutes a clear threat to Arab national security and an act of blackmail against the Arab Coalition.
Al-Nu’man had spoken about a possible future scenario. He said that if the situation continues toward the division of Yemen or an escalation by the Southern Transitional Council, supporters of Yemeni unity might be forced to ally with the Houthis. This would be with the aim of preserving national unity. He clarified that these statements do not represent the official position of the current government, but rather a warning of a potentially catastrophic scenario should the situation worsen. He emphasized that a divided Yemen would be a “hotbed of instability” for the region.
Reactions
The statements sparked outrage among southern circles and supporters of the Southern Transitional Council. They described al-Nu’man’s remarks as “scandalous” and “blackmail,” and considered them a threat to the south that exposes the hypocrisy of the legitimacy of the government that has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.
Southern activist Ahmed Omar bin Farid said: “The scandal of Yemeni Deputy Foreign Minister Mustafa al-Nu’man… He threatens to ally with the Houthis to protect what he calls ‘unity’!! This is nothing but blackmail, said shamelessly in Riyadh and on Al-Arabiya-Al-Hadath channel.” He added that al-Nu’man “has been manipulating his positions towards the South since assuming his post. Today, he is practically declaring the slogan ‘Unity or Death,’ even if it requires an alliance with the Houthis.”
For his part, activist Yasser al-Yafei pointed out that al-Nu’man’s statements “threaten an alliance with the Houthis against the South. The South has hosted more than two million displaced people from the North and embraced various northern national forces.” He added, “It seems that the mentality of the legitimate leadership is that they are running things more like WhatsApp groups than a state.”
Transitional Council confirmation
Anwar al-Tamimi explained that al-Nu’man’s statements implied a willingness to undermine the legal basis for the Arab coalition’s intervention in Yemen. This intervention aimed to end the Houthi coup and restore legitimacy. He emphasized that al-Nu’man’s proposals disregarded the objectives of Operation Decisive Storm and deemed them no less dangerous than previous fatwas targeting southerners.
Al-Tamimi added that these statements reveal a clear alignment with the Houthis and Iran against the South. This justifies the measures taken by the Southern Transitional Council to secure the South, prevent infiltrations, and protect its security and borders.
