President Al-Zubaidi Chairs Expanded Meeting with STC Senior Officials

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired an expanded meeting on Sunday that included the Presidium of the STC, its ministers in the government, heads and deputies of the auxiliary bodies, heads of committees of the National Assembly, Council of advisers, and departments of the General Secretariat.

At the beginning of the meeting, President Al-Zubaidi lauded the efforts exerted over the past period by all bodies and leadership personnel, highlighting the necessity of intensifying work and elevating organizational performance to meet the scale of challenges and national responsibilities shouldered by the STC as a political entity representing the aspirations of the people of the South.

The president reaffirmed that the STC has now become a pivotal force on the political stage, highlighting that, through the dedication of its leadership and staff, and the ultimate sacrifices of the Southern Armed Forces' heroes, the STC has successfully strengthened its presence both domestically and internationally.

President Al-Zubaidi added, "When we discuss  the just cause of the South abroad, we speak up with unwavering resolve; even as some parties may begrudgingly accept this, the reality today has shifted—the South has undeniably become a fait accompli that cannot be overlooked."

In another context, the president further noted that the Southern military forces and security services have become a well-organized army with notable defensive capabilities, as well as a diplomatic presence in various countries of the world, reinforcing its standing in any future dialogues or negotiations.

Regarding the economic file, President Al-Zubaidi underscored that the economic situation poses significant challenges for the STC as part of the existing governance framework, reiterated the Council’s commitment to standing with the people in demanding their legitimate rights, adopted and expressed them, advocated for their cause, and exerted its efforts, through its representatives in the PLC and government, to take urgent steps to alleviate citizens’ hardships, enhance basic services, and ensure economic stability.

On the political front, President Al-Zubaidi urged the STC’s officials and members to remain steadfast in advancing the cause of the people of the South. Addressing them directly, he stated, “Be resolute, stand firm, do not hold back, overdo, or succumb to extremism. Yes, flaws exist—and it is our duty as leaders to address these shortcomings.”

Regarding the national dialogue, President Al-Zubaidi stressed that the process of dialogue is not over and will not end, noting that challenges and issues may arise, but emphasized the necessity of addressing them without violence or resorting to arms, and underscored that dialogue remains the best way to resolve differences and ensure the aspirations of the people of the South are realized.

In closing his remarks, President Al-Zubaidi reiterated the STC’s commitment to pursuing a political path until realizing the aspirations of the people of the South to restore and build their independent federal state across its full national territory and within its internationally recognised borders as of 21 May 1990.

President Al-Zubaidi then listened to a range of remarks and challenges facing the governorates of the South, alongside proposals and solutions put forward by attending leaders, which touched on various political, economic, security, and service-related issues.

During the discussions, participants outlined their perspectives on addressing challenges confronting the South, reaffirming the need for concerted efforts and teamwork to face the current challenges.

In turn, the attending ministers spoke about the current situation, highlighting the scale of challenges confronting the government amid a severe economic downturn, the collapse of the currency, and the deteriorating living conditions of citizens. They also noted the sharp decline in revenue following the halt of oil exports for over two years.

The ministers explained that the government is working to address these challenges in coordination with relevant authorities and affirmed the importance of supporting government institutions and enhancing integration between the executive authorities and the STC.

The ministers asserted that the coming phase requires joint efforts, pointing to numerous outstanding issues demanding sustainable solutions—particularly in electricity, public services, and paying salaries—as well as supporting efforts to bolster security and stability across the governorates of the South.