Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), failed to attend critical crisis talks in Riyadh this week, further deepening an already sharp rift within the Gulf coalition and undermining efforts to stabilise the war-torn country.

The discussions, convened in Saudi Arabia to address a recent military escalation in southern Yemen and to defuse diplomatic strains between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), went ahead without him, with another senior STC official representing the movement amid confusion over Zubaidi’s whereabouts.

This absence has compounded tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, whose respective support for opposing Yemeni factions has fractured the anti-Houthi alliance that has underpinned Gulf engagement in Yemen for more than a decade.

Zubaidi, long backed by the UAE as head of the powerful southern separatist group pushing for autonomy or secession, was scheduled to join the talks to discuss the rapidly changing battlefield dynamics and possible avenues for de-escalation.

Instead, he reportedly relocated to an undisclosed location after mobilising STC forces, according to Saudi-aligned coalition sources, though STC spokesmen assert that he remains in Aden to lead operations on the ground.

In response to his absence and alleged mobilisation of armed units, Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council stripped Zubaidi of his membership and referred him to the public prosecutor on charges that include high treason and inciting armed rebellion, moves the STC has rejected while emphasising its openness to dialogue under appropriate conditions.

The collapse of coordination was underscored by Saudi-led limited air strikes on positions in Zubaidi’s home province of al-Dhalea and advancing efforts by Saudi-aligned forces toward key southern cities, illustrating Riyadh’s intent to reassert influence and counter what it deems destabilising separatist advances.

The crisis reflects broader strategic divergence: Saudi Arabia continues to back Yemen’s internationally recognised government and seeks to preserve Yemen’s territorial integrity, while the UAE’s longstanding support for the STC and its pursuit of southern autonomy has shifted in recent weeks as Abu Dhabi reportedly withdrew its troops and reassessed its role amid rising hostilities.

The paralysis at Riyadh’s talks, compounded by the loss of contact with a large STC delegation that did travel to the Saudi capital, highlights the fragile state of alliances in Yemen’s multifaceted war and raises questions about the prospects for unified leadership against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and for meaningful progress toward political resolution.