In the declaration, Mohammed bin Issa Al-Jaber—founder, chairman and chief executive of the MBI Group, a multinational conglomerate with assets exceeding $10 billion—said decision-making over war and peace in Yemen has shifted away from the state and into the hands of actors aligned with a regional agenda linked to Iran.

Power Fragmentation and Loss of Sovereignty

Al-Jaber argued that Yemen’s institutional framework has effectively collapsed into a dual structure: an internationally recognised government lacking operational authority, and a rival administration in Sanaa dominated by the Houthi movement, which he said imposes military decisions without public consent.

He characterised this imbalance as a “confiscation of national sovereignty,” warning that Yemenis are being drawn into conflicts that do not serve their national interests. His remarks echo broader assessments that Yemen’s war has increasingly become entangled in regional geopolitical competition, particularly involving Iran and Gulf states.

Federalism as a Structural Remedy

Positioning federalism as a viable exit strategy, Al-Jaber called for a decentralised Yemeni state in which regions are granted full administrative and political authority. He argued that such a framework would enable local governance, reduce corruption, and shield communities from externally driven military escalations.

He pointed to developments in Hadramout, where intervention by Saudi Arabia helped stabilise tensions late last year. Saudi Arabia has been a central actor in Yemen since 2015, backing the recognised government against Houthi forces.

Federal restructuring has previously been proposed during Yemen’s National Dialogue process, though implementation has stalled amid ongoing conflict and institutional breakdown.

Tihama and the Self-Determination Debate

Al-Jaber highlighted Tihama as particularly exposed to the consequences of continued instability. Home to more than eight million people and possessing strategic access to the Red Sea, he said the region holds the economic and geographic foundations of a viable state.

He warned that, in the absence of sovereign decision-making and public consent, calls for self-determination could intensify. “When people are forced into wars that do not serve their interests, self-determination becomes a legitimate political option,” he said.

While such claims remain legally and politically contentious, the principle has been invoked in cases where state authority collapses or fails to represent local populations (UN Charter, Article 1).

International Appeals and Escalating Rhetoric

The statement also urged former U.S. President Donald Trump and the international community not to interpret current developments as reflective of the Yemeni population’s will. It called on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to convene urgently and organise elections under international supervision.

Al-Jaber further issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Houthi leadership to cease claiming representation of the Yemeni people and to issue an apology, warning that failure to do so could trigger widespread public mobilisation across regions from Mahra to Saada and from Aden to Medie.

He concluded that Yemen should only engage in war in self-defence, stressing that long-term stability depends on political consensus and national interest rather than what he described as “reckless military adventurism.”

Officials warned they would take all necessary measures to restore access and authority, signaling that the dispute remains volatile despite renewed talk of dialogue.

The accusations were directed at the Southern Transitional Council, a UAE-backed group that controls significant areas in southern Yemen and has long sought autonomy.

Government representatives said the alleged restrictions effectively cut off Aden, Yemen’s temporary capital and its most important southern port.

They also claimed to have received reports of arrests taking place within the city, further raising concerns about civilian movement and safety.

The Southern Transitional Council strongly denied the allegations, insisting that movement in and out of Aden remained normal and that the city was stable.

Separatist officials described the government’s claims as a distortion of facts and rejected suggestions that checkpoints were being used to restrict civilians.

Despite these denials, residents in areas surrounding Aden reported the presence of armed checkpoints operated by separatist fighters.

The renewed accusations come just days after government forces said they had regained control of Mukalla in Hadramout province, a strategic eastern region.

That advance followed clashes that have reignited an internal power struggle within the coalition formed to fight the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

The feud has exposed deep divisions between regional backers, with Saudi Arabia supporting the internationally recognised government and the UAE backing southern separatists.

Yemen has remained divided since 2014, when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa, prompting a Gulf-led intervention the following year.

Since then, the country has been split into zones of control, with Aden serving as the main seat of government outside Houthi-held territory.

Government leaders, however, left Aden earlier last month after separatist forces took control of the city, relocating to Saudi Arabia.

A senior government official said any dialogue with the separatists would only begin once Aden was fully secured under state authority.

This position reflects lingering distrust despite regional efforts to promote negotiations as a way to end the latest round of fighting.

Complicating matters further, Aden airport was closed last week following a dispute over flights between the city and the United Arab Emirates.

Both the government and the separatists accused each other of responsibility for halting air traffic, highlighting the depth of the standoff.

Flights were partially resumed on Sunday, according to travelers and airport officials, offering limited relief to stranded passengers.

The situation also drew international attention after reports emerged of flights being redirected to Yemen’s island of Socotra.

The internationally recognised government has called on Saudi Arabia to host a forum aimed at resolving the southern issue.

Riyadh agreed to host the talks and extended invitations to various southern factions in a bid to ease tensions.

The Southern Transitional Council welcomed the initiative, suggesting that negotiations may ultimately be unavoidable.

Analysts say the brief but intense conflict has underscored the fragility of alliances in Yemen’s long-running war.

Government forces, supported by Saudi air power, have continued operations in eastern Yemen, consolidating recent territorial gains.

As diplomatic efforts proceed, the situation in Aden remains a key test of whether dialogue can overcome years of mistrust and competing ambitions.