• The Southern Transitional Council (STC) of Yemen has announced its dissolution during talks in Riyadh.
• The decision aims to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue under Saudi sponsorship.
• STC leaders criticized recent military actions that they claim harmed southern unity.
• The dissolution may signal a rift between the Saudi Arabia and UAE factions within the council.
• Saudi officials expressed support for the decision as a step towards resolving southern issues.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC), Yemen’s primary separatist group, has officially announced its dissolution during crucial talks held in Riyadh. This announcement was made as STC leaders attended a conference under Saudi sponsorship aimed at ending ongoing unrest in southern Yemen, where recent military advances have highlighted tensions within the group and between regional powers. The STC recognized “the clear and explicit commitments” made by Saudi Arabia in seeking solutions that reflect the needs of the southern population, according to Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

The announcement involves the disbanding of STC's political and administrative structures, including all offices inside and outside Yemen. Ahmed Saeed bin Brik, the STC's secretary-general, emphasized that the council had not been part of the decisions leading to military operations in Hadramout and Al-Mahra, which they assert were detrimental to the southern cause. This dissolution has been framed as a necessary step toward a broader dialogue concerning southern Yemen's future, as highlighted in reports by Anadolu Agency and Reuters.