Southern Transitional Council
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) was founded on May 4, 2017, under the presidency of Aydarus al-Zubaydi. The council represents the South Yemeni population on a regional and international level and acts in the interests of, and in support of the claims for independence of, the territory that constituted the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen until 1990. Since its foundation, the council has gained influence in all parts of South Yemen.
After President Hadi dismissed South Yemeni governors and cabinet ministers at the end of April 2017, because of their engagement for the political rights of South Yemenis, hundreds of thousands of South Yemenis went to the streets in May 2017 to protest the dismissals. In the mass demonstration on May 4, 2017, the protesters demanded the formation of an institution that acts regionally and internationally for the South Yemeni claims of renewed independence in the future. Then the dismissed governor of Aden, Aydarus al-Zubaydi, began establishing the council. On May 11, 2017, the formation of the council was announced, in response to the historic declaration of Aden during the mass protests. In the following weeks, the STC, with its Leadership Council of 24 persons and its component departments, was established. The basis of the formation is the Southern Movement, which had already been in existence since 2007, and had its own political structures and organizations. The Leadership Council consists of some governors of the South Yemeni governorates (al-Dhali, Shabwa, Hadramawt, Lahij, Socotra and al-Mahra), ministers of the government, and representatives of the Southern Movement. Over the long term, the various departments of the council shall enable the building of state structures in South Yemen.
On November 30, 2017, the National Assembly was formed from 303 representatives, covering the entire spectrum of political and civil society in South Yemen. Currently, no institutionalized electoral system or regulations on political parties exist in South Yemen, due to the fragile situation in the country and the war in Yemen. However, the Southern Movement is a movement of the grassroots in South Yemen, supported by large parts of the population, which is evident in the high number of participants in demonstrations. The STC pursues a participatory approach and gives access to all decisions taken in the council. Positions were distributed following suggestions and a consensual decision-making process. The positions in the Leadership Council and in the National Assembly were distributed to persons who play a vital role in the political, civil, cultural and charitable life in their local communities. In 2018, the first offices of the STC were established worldwide.
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