In an exclusive interview with The National on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Al Zubaidi, who also serves as deputy chairman of Yemen's Presidential Council, stated that an independent southern Yemen would pursue its own foreign policy, including potentially joining the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states.
"Before the events in Gaza, we were advancing towards joining the Abraham Accords," Al Zubaidi revealed. "When we have our southern state, we will make our own decisions and I believe we will be part of these accords."
The statement comes amid ongoing regional tensions, with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels controlling northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, while launching regular missile attacks on Israel. The internationally recognized government, operating from the southern city of Aden, has struggled to maintain unity while battling both the Houthis and managing internal divisions.
Al Zubaidi emphasized that southern Yemen has already achieved de facto independence. "The south is liberated and we are protecting our borders. Politically and geopolitically, we are ready. We only need to announce independence and for others to recognize us," he said, adding that southerners already control their territory with functioning military and police forces.
The push for southern independence reflects growing frustration with the stalled peace process. "The peace process has stopped and is frozen," Al Zubaidi stated bluntly. "After the Houthis' attacks, there is no real prospect. We are in a state of neither war nor peace."
The Southern Transitional Council, which holds three of eight seats on Yemen's Presidential Council, sees independence as a solution to isolate the Houthis while providing clarity for international partners. Al Zubaidi argued that the current complicated situation makes an independence announcement possible "at any time."
Economic pressures have intensified calls for separation. With oil revenues comprising 70 percent of the government budget, Houthi attacks on export facilities have devastated the economy. "The Prime Minister and the government are trying their best but the situation is very difficult," Al Zubaidi acknowledged, crediting Saudi Arabia and the UAE with preventing total economic collapse through financial and energy support.
Security challenges along Yemen's extensive southern coastline remain a concern. "We are trying to maintain security with what we have, but the main challenge is confronting extremist cells," Al Zubaidi explained, citing additional problems with migration and narcotics smuggling along the lengthy coastal border.
Despite describing the Houthis as "weakened and isolated," Al Zubaidi welcomed international efforts to designate them as a terrorist organization. He dismissed their attacks on Israel as "weak and not impactful," arguing they have only increased suffering for the Yemeni people.
Al Zubaidi framed southern independence within a broader regional context, supporting both a two-state solution for Yemen and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "We support the two-state solution – a Yemeni state in the north and in the south – and a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Self-determination is a right. All people have the right to determine their future," he stated.
The Southern Transitional Council leader expressed hope that international partners would support the south's right to self-determination and assist in a transition phase, while also helping to liberate the north from Houthi control.
Historical Context: Yemen's Previous Division
Yemen's potential split would not be unprecedented. The country existed as two separate states for over two decades during the Cold War era. From 1967 to 1990, North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) operated as a conservative republic aligned with the West, while South Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of Yemen) functioned as the Arab world's only Marxist state, backed by the Soviet Union. The two states unified in 1990 following the collapse of Soviet support for the south, but tensions persisted, erupting in a brief civil war in 1994 when southern leaders attempted to reverse unification. The current push for southern independence draws on this historical precedent and distinct regional identities that predate the unified state.
Map: Al Jazeera