Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate Tawakkol Karman has called on Aidarus al-Zubaidi, leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), to formally apologize to the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra and to surrender all remaining weapons to the Yemeni state prior to participating in the upcoming Riyadh conference, which aims to find equitable solutions to southern issues.

In a post on her official Facebook page, Karman emphasized that, ahead of the Riyadh conference, the STC should take these steps to address the impact of their militias’ actions in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, which were carried out in alliance with the UAE.

Her remarks highlight ongoing tensions between the STC and local communities in southern Yemen, as well as the broader challenges facing efforts to achieve a political settlement through the Riyadh talks.