Why Southern Yemen Cannot Be Reassembled in Pieces

 

In the search for an end to Yemen’s long conflict, many proposals focus on managing division rather than resolving it. Transitional arrangements, special zones, and externally brokered formulas are often presented as practical solutions. Yet when it comes to southern Yemen, these approaches miss a fundamental reality: the South is not a collection of regions waiting to be rearranged. It is a unified homeland with a shared political history and a common destiny.

Southern unity did not emerge as a slogan born of conflict. It was shaped over decades through shared governance, economic integration, and social cohesion. From coastal Aden to the eastern reaches of Al-Mahrah, southern territories functioned as a single political and administrative space. That experience continues to inform how southern communities understand themselves today.
Attempts to isolate Hadhramaut or Al-Mahrah under the banner of neutrality or “special status” do not preserve stability. Instead, they introduce uncertainty and external dependency. These regions are not exceptions to the southern cause; they are pillars of it. Detaching them from the broader southern framework weakens local representation and dilutes collective decision-making.
Fragmentation is often marketed as pragmatism, but history suggests otherwise. Divided authority leads to blurred accountability and prolonged intervention. Unity, by contrast, offers a clear framework for governance, development, and security—one grounded in local legitimacy rather than imposed oversight.

The call to restore the South reflects a sustained popular demand, expressed across cities and regions through peaceful mobilization and sacrifice. Ignoring this consensus risks repeating the same cycles of instability.

A durable future for Yemen cannot be built on partial maps and temporary fixes. Recognizing the South as one indivisible entity is not an obstacle to peace—it is a necessary foundation for it.