A Dangerous Statement by Bin Salman: Saudi Arabia Moves Toward Embracing Southern Secession After Withdrawing the Banner from the UAE
Concerns within the pro-coalition government over a Saudi political coup that could redraw the southern landscape away from its traditional tools
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Circles within the Yemeni government loyal to the coalition have expressed growing concern over a sudden Saudi shift that could lead to their exclusion from the political scene, following Riyadh’s announcement— for the first time—of allocating a special conference for the “people of the South.” This move was seen as a direct bypassing of the government and a disregard for the repercussions of a full decade of coalition military intervention in Yemen.
Riyadh Opens an Independent Track for the Southern Issue
These concerns followed a statement by Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, in which he affirmed that the southern issue now has a “real track” sponsored by the Kingdom and supported by the international community—remarks widely interpreted as a Saudi declaration of managing the southern file independently.
The Riyadh Conference: A Prelude to Adopting the Secession Project?
In a post on his account on the “X” platform, Khalid bin Salman claimed that the conference Saudi Arabia intends to hold in Riyadh for the people of the South aims to realize their “will and aspirations.” Political actors viewed this as a clear message reflecting a Saudi inclination toward adopting the option of secession, which is being advanced by limited southern factions and figures.
Field Measures Preceding the Conference
In a related development, informed sources revealed that Riyadh has formed a special committee directly affiliated with it to manage the Southern Conference, confirming that it will include “all people of the South.” This comes after prior field measures described as escalatory, including the dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council, the exclusion of a number of its leaders from the Presidential Leadership Council, and their political and security persecution.
Redrawing Influence in the South
Observers believe that the Saudi move reflects an effort to reassert control over the southern file and wrest it from the hands of the United Arab Emirates, within the framework of a struggle for influence inside the coalition. This could lead to radical changes in the balance of power in southern Yemen and place the pro-coalition government before a new political reality.
