Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen’s province of Hadhramaut yesterday warned the Yemeni government against “marginalising us in any consultations over a solution to the situation in Yemen.”

In an official statement, the STC stressed on its “support for Yemen’s legitimate government led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi,” noting that it is an “independent council.”

The statement demanded the next prime minister be elected from the province governed by the STC, adding that their people must have “compatible rights as an independent region”. It also called on the government to “involve us in the national dialogue.”

Over the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia has been sponsoring negotiations between the Yemeni government and the STC, in an effort to reach a peace agreement as armed confrontations between the Saudi-backed troops and STC forces are escalating.

On 25 April, the STC announced self-rule in the south of the country. While STC forces have seized Socotra Archipelago, government officials have said.