Aden, Yemen – Following reports of his escape from Aden, questions are swirling regarding the legal status of Aidarus al-Zubaidi, head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). Al-Zubaidi’s departure has ignited a debate about whether the Yemeni government will pursue his extradition.<\/p>\n
The Saudi-led coalition spokesman confirmed that al-Zubaidi and others fled by sea from Aden, heading towards the self-declared Republic of Somaliland. The coalition’s statement alleges that they disabled identification systems and arrived at the port of Berbera. Further, al-Zubaidi reportedly contacted a UAE official, identified as Major General Awad Saeed Musleh al-Ahbabi, who arranged for a plane to transport them from the region under the supervision of Emirati officers. The coalition highlighted the disabling of tracking systems during the transfer, suggesting a violation of international laws.<\/p>\n
The legal ramifications for al-Zubaidi began after Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi dismissed him from his position and accused him of high treason<\/em>. The accusations include distributing weapons, forming armed groups, and committing violations against civilians, leading to his referral to the Public Prosecutor.<\/p>\n Given his escape, the question now is how Yemen can hold al-Zubaidi accountable through internationally recognized channels. Legal expert Amin al-Khudeiri stated that al-Zubaidi has committed serious crimes against the Yemeni people, including treason<\/strong> and undermining the constitution<\/strong>. He argues that al-Zubaidi must be tried under Yemeni law.<\/p>\n Al-Khudeiri suggests that the Yemeni government, through the Public Prosecutor, should request Interpol to arrest al-Zubaidi and extradite him to Yemen in accordance with Yemeni law and international protocols.<\/p>\n