Al-Ghaydah City Hosts Million-Person Rally Demanding Declaration of South Arabia State (Statement)

The city of Al-Ghaydah, downtown of Al-Mahra Governorate, witnessed a million-person rally demanding the declaration of the South Arabia State, in which large crowds of people from the governorate participated, and a statement was issued by the rally, which is as follows:

Final statement of the million-person rally demanding the declaration of the state of South Arabia (Al-Ghaydah - Al-Mahrah Governorate)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

At a historic moment, the people of Al-Mahrah Governorate from all its districts have gathered in a major public event, raising their voices loudly to let the world know that the voice of Al-Mahrah cannot be silenced and that its position in the path to restoring the fully sovereign State of the South is decisive and clear. We reaffirm that Al-Mahrah is an integral part of the Southern national project, and its people are proactive partners in protecting their hard-won gains and shaping the future of coming generations.

· Everyone knows that true legitimacy emanates from the people. Therefore, the people of Al-Mahrah affirm their right to self-determination to restore the Federal State of South Arabia and build the state on foundations of justice, partnership, and the rule of law.

· The people of Al-Mahrah call on the political leadership—under President Aidarous bin Qassem Al-Zubaidi—to retain Southern government forces for the security of the governorate. They demand these forces be deployed in the desert and border regions until elite Al-Mahrah units can be formed. They further insist that Al-Mahrah must not be allowed to become a conduit for smuggling contraband into neighbouring countries by outlaw elements.

· We We affirm to the world that the State of South Arabia will be a force for good and peace, both regionally and globally. Given its pivotal geographical and political position, we seek to build common interests, primarily in the economic and shared national security spheres. For the Federal State of South Arabia, this means protecting the south of the Arabian Peninsula regionally and safeguarding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a vital artery for global trade.

· We, the people of Al-Mahrah Governorate, condemn the raids and bombardment that occurred on the port of Al-Mukalla, this civilian facility. We affirm to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Coalition countries, whose blood has mixed with the blood of Southerners in the trenches and on the battlefronts against the Houthis and terrorism, that alienating Southerners will not deter them from their supreme demand to restore the State of the South. The liberation of the Wadi and Desert of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah from terrorist forces was in response to popular demands and occurred only after the violation of the Riyadh Agreement signed by the negotiating parties. UN Security Council Resolution 2216 has definitively identified the targeted party as the Houthi group.

· We support what was stated in the statement of the members of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), who condemn the unilateral measures and decisions taken by the PLC Chairman and hold him responsible for any repercussions affecting citizens in the South, and we demand the international community and the Security Council intervene urgently to protect civilians and economic and vital facilities.

· We salute the steadfastness of our people of the South on the path to restoring their state and the ultimate sacrifices they have made. We call on all of Southern Mahri society and the Supreme Leadership of the STC, led by Aidarous bin Qassem Al-Zubaidi, the Supreme Commander of the Southern Armed Forces, to declare the Federal State of South Arabia.

· We reaffirm to the people of Al-Mahrah Governorate that we have moved from the phase of patience to the phase of decisiveness and decision-making to restore the Federal State of South Arabia and build institutions worthy of the ultimate sacrifices made by the people of the South for the just Southern cause.

In conclusion, we pray for mercy upon the martyrs, recovery for the wounded, and freedom for the prisoners and detainees.

Issued by the Al-Ghaydah Massive Mass Rally in Al-Mahrah Governorate

Tuesday, 30 December 2025