"Hundreds of residents of Yemen’s Hadhramaut province took to the streets of Mukalla on Thursday to express support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and its president, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi - following a disputed disbanding of the STC and reports of a split in the group. Footage shows demonstrators waving flags and holding portraits of STC leaders, while chanting slogans including "Aidarus, march on, we are your army of liberation" and "We sacrifice our souls and blood for the South." The rally came after one group of STC members announced the dissolution of the council in a televised statement while in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where they were participating in a Saudi-sponsored dialogue involving various southern political factions. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman welcomed the announcement, describing it as “courageous.” In a post on X, he said: “The southern cause now has a real path forward, sponsored by the Kingdom and supported and endorsed by the international community through the Riyadh conference.” In response, STC spokesperson Anwar al-Tamimi rejected the move, stating on X that “decisions concerning the council can only be taken by the council as a whole and under the leadership of its president.” Earlier, an Arab Coalition spokesperson claimed that STC president Aidarus al-Zubaidi had “fled to an unknown location,” a claim denied by the council. Al-Tamimi said in a separate post that al-Zubaidi “continues to carry out his duties from the capital, Aden, alongside his people, directly overseeing and monitoring developments.” Earlier this month, al-Zubaidi unveiled plans for what he called a 'two-year transition' to independence for the southern region - including a referendum by 2028. The STC backs an independent southern state in Yemen. "