On-the-ground realities will limit southern Yemen’s secessionist ambitions

Aydarous Al-Zubaydi and the Southern Transition Council (STC) have grand ambitions for south Yemen, but the reality on the ground means they will have to restrict their hopes to territory which represents a fraction of the pre-1990 southern state. Among the five mainland governorates which made up South Yemen, Shebwa remains firmly in the hands of government forces and within Islah’s sphere of influence.