Yemen remains the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. The war that has doomed the past of the country has become a lasting phenomenon threatening its future also. According to ACLED data, between 1 January 2015 and 12 December 2020, the war has claimed the lives of at least Yemenis.

The political actors and power structures have changed in relation with the power they hold respectively throughout the 6+ years in the war. The Houthis, usually cited as the source of all troubles in the country, has received enough attention from the public and policymakers. Especially associated with news and analyses on Iran or by ingraining their own place in the political / security / humanitarian landscape, the group has pushed followers of the Yemeni file to closely monitor their acts/initiatives, the last being offensive on Marib.

There is, though, another separatist movement that has been overlooked or better put less understood, the Southern Movement (al-Hirak al-Janubi). More specifically, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) with roots in the greater Southern Movement was formed in 2017 and quickly gained prominence to first wrest control of capital Aden in August 2018, and become part of bumpy negotiations of the Riyadh Agreement of November 2019. Finally, the Council became part of the internationally recognized Yemen government that returned to Aden in December 2020.

The STC and the international government, although sharing the same governance setting have different calculations and, in most cases conflicting interests in the war-making effort. Especially the latest Houthi offensive in Marib and the government forces’ performance will have a decisive role in the future of Yemen.

To discuss all these issues and have a better grasp of the war in Yemen, Beyond the Horizon ISSG will host a recorded online event with the participation of distinguished guest speakers. The discussion, among many others, will revolve mainly around three questions:

1. What is the place of STC within the Southern Movement and what political moves can be expected from STC in the coming days?
2. How can we describe the status of social and political fabric linking the Yemeni societies in North and South?
3. Among the three scenarios foreseen for Yemen (unity, secession, and federalism), which one is the best within current settings? What would bring peace to Yemen instead of sowing seeds of future conflicts?