At present, its best-known political offshoot, the Southern Transitional Council led by Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, is the de facto leadership across many provinces of the south.

This came after leaders of the former independent southern state declared an end to the unity deal amidst an alleged power-grabbing usurp by their northern counterparts.

Several hundred thousand militaries and civil employees from the south were forced into early retirement and compensated with pensions below the subsistence level.

Although equally, low living standards were prevalent throughout the whole of Yemen, many in the south felt that they were being intentionally targeted and dismissed from important posts,[6] and being replaced with northern officials affiliated with the new government.

Despite the economic difficulty in its later years with the collapse of its main backer the Soviet Union, the socialist state prided itself on its free healthcare, education and welfare system.

Many in Aden today speak foreign languages or have technical skills as a result of their state-sponsored education abroad enjoyed in the days of pre-unity South Yemen.

Unlike the north, tribalism was looked upon with disdain and generally stamped out of everyday life in the south, which instead preferred the law and order of civil society passed onto them from British rule.

[7] In May 2007, grieving pensioners who had not been paid for years began to organise small demonstrations demanding better rights and an end to the economic and political marginalization of the south.

[8] This eventually gave birth to the Southern Movement, which grew to consist of a loose coalition of groups seeking a complete secession from the north.

To raise the former flag of South Yemen was considered a crime in Aden, although a common practice outside of the city where government control was limited.

A medium-range ballistic missile was used to kill dozens in the camp, including a well-known and senior commander of the southern movement known as Muneer al-Yafee or Abu al-Yamama.

In response, a four-day battle took place between UAE-backed forces belonging to the southern movement and those loyal to the Saudi-backed Hadi government.

[12] Dozens were killed in the infighting, which came to an end with the southern forces taking control of all government buildings and military camps within the city including the symbolic presidential palace.

[28] On 22 August 2022, Southern forces launched an operation called "Arrows of the East" in the Abyan governorate, entering Shuqrah early the next day.

[33] They had negotiated a takeover with local officials who had previously been loyal to ex-President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, but had been "cast adrift by his ouster" due to the formation of the PLC.

[35] Two days later, Saudi Arabia invited "army and security leaders" from Shabwah and Abyan for "consultations", possibly in relation to the Southern offensive.

[36] On 10 September 2022, Southern forces announced offensive against al-Qaeda in Khaber Al-Marakesha area in Abyan and Al-Musainah region in Shabwah governatore.

[46] On 20 September after clearing Wadi Omaran from explosive devices Southern forces moved to "Rabeez" area, while Al-Qaeda retreated to "Al-Hanka".

[50] By 5 November, Southern troops spearheaded by the STC fighters had advanced into al-Khealah valley, south of Mahfad district, dislodging its al-Qaeda garrison.