Why Yemen Must Choose Unity Before It Becomes Another Gaza

As the world watches wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and sees countries like Sudan and Syria torn apart by endless conflict, one hard lesson becomes clear: when unity is broken and people’s identity is ignored, suffering only grows. Lives are lost, families are displaced, and generations grow up knowing only fear instead of hope.

Far from the global spotlight lies Yemen, a nation that has quietly endured years of pain. Its crisis may not dominate headlines every day, but Yemen today stands at a critical turning point. The choices made now will decide whether its people move toward peace and development or remain trapped in instability and loss. At the centre of this moment is one powerful truth: Southern Yemen is one. It is one land, one identity, and one shared history. Dividing it will only deepen wounds, but uniting it can open the door to healing. Restoring a single, united Southern Yemen is not about politics alone it is about dignity, stability, and the right of people to live without fear.

A One South Yemen offers something that war never can: peace, development, and a future. Unity is not a threat to stability; unity is the foundation of it.

History Isn’t a Footnote — It’s a Foundation…

For many years before 1990, Southern Yemen was its own country. It had its own government, its own system, and was recognised by the world. When the North and South united in 1990, a new Yemen was formed, but this did not erase the identity of the South or its long history as a separate and united entity.

That is why today’s call for unity in Southern Yemen is not a temporary political move. It comes from real experience and shared history. From Aden to Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah, the people of the South are connected by common governance, culture, and social ties that go back generations. Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah are not special cases or side regions. They are an essential part of Southern Yemen. Trying to separate them or treat them differently weakens the South from within. History around the world shows that dividing a land with a shared identity only creates long-term conflict, not peace.

Or if we dont go so much into analysis simply we can simply say, the South is one, and only unity can bring stability and a better future for Yemeni’s. And the people of Yemen deserve peace, equal opportunities in their region.

Why the Call for a United South Cannot Be Ignored

Why is this demand for unity in Southern Yemen important to notice immediately? The answer lies in the news headlines, which cite external powers are weakening nations’ internal spirit; the recent developments show the urgency of this debate. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) was formed in 2017 to represent the southern interests. This represents the first time since 1990 that a single force has asserted effective governance over the entire southern region. The STC’s rise has changed the battlefield dynamic and political map of Yemen, but it should not be misunderstood as merely a military phenomenon. It reflects broad regional sentiment among southerners who see unity and autonomy as the only viable path to stability and dignity after decades of marginalisation and war.

Unity Is the Only Practical Path to Peace. It Matters

Some people say that breaking the South into smaller zones or giving special status to certain areas will reduce conflict. I strongly disagree. History from countries like Libya and Iraq shows us the opposite. When nations are divided without the clear support of their people, it creates weak authority, confusion, and more fighting. Such divisions also make it easier for outside forces to interfere. A united Southern Yemen, stretching from Al-Mahrah to Bab al-Mandab, is not an extreme demand. It is a practical and realistic solution. It matches how people in the South see themselves and how their society actually works. One clear authority brings order, trust, and a better chance for peace.

Treating the South as a mix of separate regions or “special cases” only deepens divisions. It does not solve problems; it creates new ones. Peace will come not from dividing the South, but from recognising one united Southern Yemen.

Across the world, ignoring historical and social realities has turned wars into generations of suffering. In Gaza, cycles of conflict have persisted in part because political solutions failed to reconcile territorial and identity claims with local realities. In Ukraine, external interference and contested sovereignty have led to a war that will shape European security for years.

Yemen, too, has witnessed more than a decade of civil war that began with the Houthi insurgency in 2014 and escalated into a regional proxy battlefield. The internationally recognised government struggled to maintain authority even in its own capital, while rival forces, external powers, and non-state militias fractured the country’s political cohesion. Amid this turmoil, the concept of a unified South is not simply a territorial claim it is a structural alternative to perpetual fragmentation.

Peace cannot be imposed from the outside or stitched together behind closed doors…

Real stability must reflect the aspirations of the population on the ground. Peace cannot be imposed from the outside or stitched together behind closed doors.

For Yemenis, a unified South is not a threat to peace. What we can visualise is a foundation for durable peace. It offers:

Political clarity for governance and representation
Institutional coherence to transition from war to reconstruction
Reduced space for extremist exploitation of fragmented authorities
A foundation for economic recovery and social rebuilding

For the international community, including India and other nations invested in Red Sea security, global trade, and regional stability, supporting a clear and peace-oriented framework will be the best option.

I will conclude with my honest opinion that “History will judge decisions made today by how well they protect human life and enable peaceful coexistence.” Yemen does not need another cycle of compromise that ignores the legitimate aspirations of its people. It needs a political vision that mirrors social reality — not a patchwork of zones and exceptions that invites endless dispute.

The South is one. Sovereignty is indivisible. Peace begins with acknowledging both.

If the world aims to help Yemen avoid the prolonged suffering seen in Gaza, Ukraine, and other conflict zones, then recognising the indivisible unity of Southern Yemen must be part of that solution.