Hadramout (South24 Center) 

---

Hadramout Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi vowed on Thursday (March 12) to prevent any demonstrations in the governorate in support of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), saying authorities will not allow protesters to raise images of STC President Aidarous Al-Zubaidi or organize rallies opposing the decisions of Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi.

Al-Khanbashi, who is widely known for his close ties to Saudi Arabia, made the remarks in a video circulated from a meeting of the local authority in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout.

He referred to the decision issued by Al-Alimi, who resides in Riyadh, removing Al-Zubaidi from the Presidential Leadership Council. He also referenced the high treason charge reportedly issued from Riyadh in January against the STC leader.

In an extraordinary meeting held Thursday in Mukalla, the STC Executive Authority in Hadramout rejected the governor’s statements, describing them as “an attempt to recycle tools of domination.”

The body said in a statement that Hadramout will remain, according to the statement, part of the Southern political project.

Tensions in Hadramout escalated in early February after the city of Seiyun witnessed large protests on February 6 involving thousands of STC supporters. Demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of northern forces from Wadi Hadramout and called for local forces to assume responsibility for security in the region.

Local sources said the protests were met with strict security measures, including the use of force, the pursuit of peaceful protesters, raids on civilian homes, and the arrest of at least 41 individuals.

Reports also indicated that Seiyun International Airport was used as a military detention site during the events.

During the demonstrations, protesters tore down a large banner bearing the image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman near Seiyun airport, expressing anger over Saudi airstrikes that had targeted southern forces in Wadi Hadramout.

Read more at: Pro-STC Protests in the South: Context and Objectives

In an interview with the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on February 26, Al-Khanbashi said the Seiyun protests were not “spontaneous” but “driven,” adding that authorities hoped to avoid using force while acknowledging that several protesters had been detained on charges of incitement.

Al-Khanbashi was appointed governor of Hadramout on November 27, 2025, succeeding Mabkhout bin Madi.

On January 2, the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council assigned him to lead the Nation Shield Forces in Hadramout, granting him broad military, security, and administrative powers as head of the governorate’s security committee.

In early January, Al-Khanbashi led a military campaign against southern forces backed by Saudi air cover involving hundreds of airstrikes, resulting in dozens of southern soldiers being killed or wounded and forcing the forces to withdraw toward Aden.

On January 16, he was also appointed a member of the Presidential Leadership Council following the removal of Aidarous Al-Zubaidi and Maj. Gen. Faraj Al-Bahsani from the council.