“Abu Zar’a al-Mahrami,” a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, is tasked with leading separatist forces

Yemen Monitor/ Aden/ Exclusive:

The UAE-backed President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Thursday tasked Abdulrahman al-Mahrami, also known as “Abu Zar’a,” a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, with leading security and counterterrorism forces which he calls the “Southern Forces,” a separatist group.

Abu Zar’a al-Mahrami, a Salafist leader who commands the Giants Forces, is also the Deputy President of the STC and receives support from Abu Dhabi.

The appointment decision stated, “Al-Mahrami will fully oversee the work of security and counterterrorism forces, as well as their restructuring and organization.”

The decision comes as al-Mahrami and Aidrous al-Zubaidi have been in Abu Dhabi for several days.

The STC rejects mediation efforts by the United Nations and Saudi Arabia to end the war in Yemen through negotiations with the Houthis without including the secession of South Yemen in the talks.