Shabwa Celebrates Arrival of President Al-Zubaidi and Accompanying Delegation

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), attended a massive public rally on Tuesday evening organized by the local authority in Shabwa Governorate, celebrating his visit and that of his accompanying delegation to the governorate.

President Al-Zubaidi delivered a keynote address at the event, attended by Shabwa Governor Sheikh Awad bin Al-Wazir, several members of the STC's Presidium, ministers of the Transitional Council in the government, heads of auxiliary bodies, local authority officials, the local leadership executive body (LLEB) of the STC, military commanders, and senior security officers, as well as prominent social, academic, and youth and women representatives. The full text of his significant address is as follows:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise to be for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May the praise of Allah and His peace be on Prophet Muhammad [PBUH], his family, and Companions.

Dear Sheikh Awad Ben Al-Wazir Al-Awlaqi, Governor of Shabwa Governorate,

Dear Lahmar bin Ali Laswad, Head of the local leadership executive body (LLEB) of the STC in Shabwa,

Dear local authority officials and leadership of the LLEB in Shabwa,

Ladies and gentlemen, sheikhs, dignitaries, and notables of Shabwa Governorate, academicians, military and security leaders,

And all those present, each in his own name and esteemed title,

It gives me immense pleasure to begin by extending my congratulations to you all on the blessed month of Ramadan. May Allah bring it back to us, our people, and our homeland with goodness, security, stability, and prosperity.

Distinguished attendees,

We gather on this blessed night of the holy month, once again in our meeting here in the epitome of pride and steadfastness—the governorate of Shabwa, the resilient Shabwa from which we draw the spirit of revolution and resistance. Throughout our history in the South, Shabwa has been a cradle for the free and a launchpad for revolutionaries, a beacon of defiance against the forces of occupation and terrorism. On behalf of all of you, we wholeheartedly salute Shabwa, the land of authenticity, its land and sea, its plains and towering mountains; glory to Shabwa, the land of the heroes across its geographical expanse, and its ancient heritage deeply rooted in history.

Esteemed attendees,

Our visit today to the resilient Shabwa is undoubtedly an exceptional visit to an exceptional governorate. We have arrived in this beloved governorate to continue the efforts undertaken by the field teams, which were previously tasked with visiting all the governorates of the South to gain insight into their conditions. Today we make our stop here in Shabwa to find out about its situation, to understand the concerns and aspirations of its people, to be close in contact with them, and to listen attentively to their voices.

We have come accompanied by our ministers in the government to comprehensively assess the challenges facing the governorate. We will definitely work to support the tireless efforts of the local authority in addressing these issues within the available resources, and we will spare no effort to champion Shabwa and gain the right of its citizens to live with dignity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Shabwa, the beloved governorate gifted with a distinguished geographical location, possesses economic and human potential that elevates it as a leading governorate in various fields. The time has come now for its people to fully benefit from the resources of their governorate. As per our responsibilities in the PLC and the government, we stand firmly with them and are committed to empowering them to autonomously manage the affairs of their governorate. It is time for Shabwa to achieve economic and military autonomy through the establishment of key economic and oil facilities, in particular PetroShabwa, and to recognize Shabwa as a military region free from inter-interventions and control. Today, we reopened the airport, with the port to follow, as part of our unwavering support for Shabwa economically, developmentally, and security-wise.

To all those present,

We acknowledge the magnitude of the challenges facing this governorate, despite its rich resources and wealth. Shabwa’s strategic location and economic potential have made it a target for forces of evil, especially the Houthi militias and the terrorist organizations allied with them. We are not oblivious to the malicious activities of these groups, which continue to harbor delusions of regaining control over this governorate.

And let us not forget, above all, the immense, honorable, and ultimate sacrifices made by the heroic people of Shabwa in confronting the terrorist Houthi militias, particularly in the districts of Bayhan, which witnessed extraordinary confrontations and battles. In these unrelenting struggles, the resilient governorate of Shabwa lost more than a thousand martyrs, culminating in a decisive battle embodied by the people of the South and Shabwa together—the "Storm of the South" battle. This stands as a crystal-clear testament to their shared goal and destiny and to the critical strategic importance of this governorate.

From here in Ataq, we send a clear warning to whoever might consider jeopardizing the security and stability of Shabwa. Our patience should not be mistaken for weakness, and our firm determination remains unshakable. Our resilient people, alongside the Southern armed forces, are fully prepared to defend their hard-won national gains. We will never ever, under any circumstances, tolerate any group with destructive agendas to disrupt the peace of Shabwa or any part of the pure land of the South, with zero tolerance of threats to the security and stability of our homeland.

Respected attendees,

Our homeland is going through a sensitive phase shaped by current circumstances and intersecting interests. This moment demands greater cohesiveness, solidarity, and the rejection of division. We must combat all alien phenomena that have infiltrated our society, particularly the issue of tribal vendettas, which the occupation exploited as a malicious tool to tear apart the social fabric of the South in hopes of suppressing our collective resolve. Today, it is imperative that we all take action, from our respective positions, to eradicate this phenomenon by promoting values of reconciliation and tolerance and by implementing meaningful measures toward a South free from vengeance. This is the well-seated foundation of the STC’s firm principles and the Southern National Charter, and in the coming days, we will redouble our efforts to address the issue of vendettas in the governorate; however, this cannot be without serious cooperation and a shared sense of responsibility towards it.

Sisters and brothers, all those present here,

The agreements and sharing of power necessitated by the previous phase were by no means a concession or retreat from strategic goals. Rather, they emerged as a virtue of necessity to rescue our people from the repercussions of systematic crises. Today, we steadfastly continue to lead the same struggle, engaging in an open battle on all fronts—political, economic, military, and security. With the help of Allah, then our firm determination and the sterling will of our people, victory will undoubtedly be ours.

Our distinguished gathering of Shabwa’s people,

As we convene today in Ataq, the downtown of Shabwa, we cannot but express our profound gratitude and appreciation for the tremendous efforts of the local authority in the governorate, led by my dear brother, Sheikh Awad Mohammed bin Al-Wazir. In a remarkably short time, he has steered the governorate toward safety, security, and stability, working tirelessly and with unwavering dedication to drive development and progress. Our salute goes to the courageous heroes of the Shabwa Defense Forces, the Southern Giants Brigades, and the Southern Resistance Brigades, who played a pivotal role in bravely confronting the forces of occupation and terrorism, which attempted in vain to reoccupy the governorate.

It is also an opportunity to reiterate the position of the STC and the PLC in supporting the local authority in Shabwa governorate, as well as the security services and military forces tasked with securing the borders and maintaining security and stability in the governorate. Foremost among these are the Shabwa Defense Forces, who have projected their effectiveness in carrying out the security and combat duties assigned to them, truly living up to their name in reality.

In conclusion,

Shabwa holds a deeply special place in my heart, beyond its political, economic, and military significance. From this perspective, I assure you all that this governorate and its people are of the highest priority to me. We will work tirelessly to meet your expectations by serving your interests, bolstering your presence, and ensuring the protection of the governorate and the safeguarding of the hard-won achievements fulfilled here.

We must not forget to express our deepest gratitude, appreciation, and thanks to our esteemed brothers in the brotherly United Arab Emirates, who, as part of the coalition led by the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have generously supported Shabwa and the liberated governorates in various sectors. Foremost among these efforts is their unwavering support for the security services and military forces, providing them with training and equipping them with all required resources to properly carry out their duties.

I extend my greetings to you once again, and may this month be filled with blessings. Wishing you all the best.

Peace, mercy, and the blessings of Allah be upon you all.