UAE hosts meeting of South Yemen dissidents

The UAE has hosted meetings of Southern Movement leaders in Abu Dhabi, including the former President of South Yemen, Ali Salem Al Beidh, the New Khalij has reported.

The ongoing meetings have been held with the sole objective of planning a future vision for the south of the war-torn country. The UAE has shown unprecedented support for the secessionist movement in South Yemen, in direct opposition to the recognised government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Saudi-led coalition.

Since 2015, the UAE has intervened in Yemen as part of the coalition to reinstate President Hadi and to push back the military advances of the Houthi rebels towards South Yemen. A recent announcement by the Southern Political Council, headed by Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, an ally of the UAE, appears to have triggered a political shift in the Emirati position on Yemen.

Read: Saudi-UAE divided over southern Yemen

The UAE’s support for the southern political leaders will cause tensions with Saudi Arabia and the other coalition members, as it will undermine the objective of creating a united Yemen.