Yemen Crisis Deepens As Separatists Declare Self-governance – By Saleh al-Obeidi & Shatha Yaish (IB Times) / April 26 2020
Yemeni separatists early Sunday declared self-rule of the country’s south as a peace deal with the government crumbled, complicating a long and separate conflict with Huthi rebels who control much of the north.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) accused the government of failing to perform its duties and of “conspiring” against the southern cause, and said self-governance had begun at midnight.
The government condemned the move and said the separatists — who have long agitated for independence in the south — would be responsible for the “catastrophic and dangerous” outcome.
The breakdown between the one-time allies comes as a Saudi-led coalition, which backs the internationally recognised government in a battle against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, has extended a unilateral ceasefire aimed at fending off the coronavirus pandemic — a move rejected by the Huthis.
Yemen’s separatists signed a power-sharing deal in Riyadh last November that quelled a battle — dubbed a “civil war within a civil war” — for the south that had in August seen them seize control of the second city of Aden.
Yemen’s southern separatists had signed a power-sharing deal in November that quelled a battle for the south which had seen them seize control of Aden Photo: AFP / Saleh Al-OBEIDI
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