Mogadishu: Somalia has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorized use of its airspace by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), the Somali immigration agency said Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) stated that it was collaborating with other national authorities to verify whether Somalia's airspace and airports were used to facilitate the movement of a 'fugitive political figure' in breach of Somali law or authorization procedures. The agency emphasized that if confirmed, these actions would represent a significant breach of Somalia's sovereignty and immigration laws. It stressed the unacceptability of facilitating fugitives or conducting any unilateral operations on its territory without proper authorization.
The ICA highlighted that Mogadishu has consistently supported Saudi Arabia's call for dialogue in Riyadh as the 'appropriate political process' for resolving the situation in Yemen. The agency noted that any effort by al-Zubaidi to bypass this process, including alleged external support, would directly contradict ongoing diplomatic efforts. It warned that confirmed breaches would violate bilateral agreements and international law, and assured that appropriate measures would be taken based on the investigation's findings to ensure accountability for any confirmed violations.
The Saudi-led coalition previously stated that al-Zubaidi failed to comply with instructions to travel to Riyadh for discussions, opting instead to mobilize forces toward Al-Dhale in southwestern Yemen. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki later claimed that al-Zubaidi fled Aden by sea before leaving the region by air, a claim that the STC denied, insisting their leader remains operational in the city.
The STC has not issued a detailed response, only reiterating that its leader remains active and rejecting the accusations. Last week, Saudi Arabia accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of pushing STC forces to conduct military operations along the kingdom's southern border in Hadhramaut and Mahra, an accusation that Abu Dhabi denied. These two provinces, which represent nearly half of Yemen's territory, were seized by STC fighters last month, but government forces managed to recapture them earlier this week.
The STC has long advocated for the secession of southern Yemen, arguing that successive governments have politically and economically marginalized the region. Yemeni authorities reject these claims, insisting on preserving the country's territorial unity. North and South Yemen were unified on May 22, 1990, forming the Republic of Yemen.