Yem-en’s main separatist group appeared divided on Friday after some members announced it was disbanding, exposing tensions linked to a wider feud between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi-backed forces have largely retaken areas in southern and eastern Yem-en that were seized in December by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), and a delegation from the group travelled to Riyadh for talks under Saudi sponsorship.

The split deepened after STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi left Yem-en on Wednesday instead of joining the talks. The Saudi-led coalition said the UAE helped him depart on a flight tracked to a military airport in Abu Dhabi. One STC member who went to Riyadh said the group had decided to disband, a statement broadcast on Saudi state media, but the STC leadership later said it had not been consulted and had no communication with the delegation that initiated the talks.

A spokesperson close to al-Zubaidi said any decision on the group’s future could only be taken by the full council and only after the Riyadh delegation was “released.” Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman welcomed the reported decision and said a conference would be held in Saudi Arabia to address southern Yem-eni issues. Meanwhile, the STC called for mass protests in Aden and Mukalla, while authorities aligned with Yem-en’s Saudi-backed government ordered a ban on demonstrations in Aden, citing security concerns.