"Protests demanding the declaration of a 'South Arabia State' in Yemen continued for a 19th consecutive day at Exhibition Square in Khormaksar District, Aden Governorate, on Thursday, as supporters arrived from Al-Dhalea Governorate and the Yafa regions. Footage shows hundreds of demonstrators waving the flag of the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen and chanting slogans including, “With our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, South,” and “Aidarus, declare the state!” A banner displayed in the square reads: “South Arabia State declaration to protect Arab identity and combat terrorism.” “We have come in support of the decisions of the Southern Transitional Council, represented by our brother leader Aidarus Qasim Al-Zubaidi, to declare 'South Arabia State', protect Arab identity, and combat terrorism, together moving toward a free, proud, and fully sovereign South,” a protester said. “We are the landowners, and we are the ones with the true legitimacy. We are the ones who liberated our land and expanded it, and today it is under our administration. We are the decision-makers. We do not seek anyone’s permission, nor legitimacy from anyone,” added a second. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced on December 8 the launch of an open sit-in under the slogan: “Together we build the future, together we reclaim our state.” The demonstrations follow the STC’s recent military operation, dubbed ‘The Promising Future’. According to the council, the campaign aims to “liberate the cities and regions of the Hadhramaut Valley and Desert from terrorist organisations and Muslim Brotherhood-aligned militias,” and advance eastward towards Al-Mahrah Governorate. In response, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said in a statement on Thursday that “the stability of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah and the safety of their social fabric are a top national priority.” It warned that any security or military actions carried out outside the state’s constitutional and institutional frameworks, and without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council, government, and local authorities, “constitute an unacceptable source of tension” during a highly sensitive period."