During recent proceedings at the UN General Assembly, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, president of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), advocated for a two-state solution as the optimal path to national stability. Al-Zubaidi underscored that the current situation on the ground already reflects two distinct military and economic entities, and conveyed pessimism regarding the likelihood of dislodging Iran-backed Houthi forces from northern Yemen through military action or achieving a viable political resolution.
Historically, Yemen was divided into two separate states from 1967 to 1990 before its reunification. The nation descended into a devastating civil war in 2014 following the seizure of the capital, Sana’a, by Houthi rebels, a conflict that displaced over 4.5 million people. A ceasefire was established in 2022, after years of a Saudi-led coalition conducting air campaigns and Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia and vessels in the Red Sea. A two-month U.S. bombing campaign against the Houthis this year reportedly caused hundreds of civilian fatalities. Despite the de facto north-south division, Yemen continues to be recognized as a unitary state by the international community.
Source: www.theguardian.com