Why Unity in South Yemen Is a Humanitarian Imperative

 

Displacement is not an abstract concept for us; it is part of our shared history and present reality. From the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, we understand what it means when conflict forces families to leave their homes, risk dangerous journeys, and depend on humanitarian aid for survival. That is why developments across the Red Sea in South Yemen deserve careful attention from African societies and media alike.

For centuries, the Horn of Africa and southern Yemen have been connected through trade, culture, and migration. Long before modern borders, people crossed the Red Sea for work, safety, and family ties. Even today, migration routes between Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and South Yemen remain active, often not by choice, but by necessity. When instability grows in South Yemen, human suffering follows on both sides of the sea.

Instability and the Human Cost

Ongoing political fragmentation and insecurity in South Yemen have fueled dangerous migration patterns. Desperate people, Yemenis and Africans alike, attempt perilous sea crossings, often falling victim to traffickers, drowning, or exploitation. African coastal states, already managing their own displacement challenges, face increased humanitarian pressure as instability spills across maritime borders.

History shows us that prolonged disorder creates humanitarian blind spots. When authority is divided, and territories are treated as exceptions or buffer zones, aid coordination weakens. Vulnerable communities are left unprotected, and displacement becomes cyclical rather than temporary. Africa has learned this lesson painfully: fragmented governance prolongs suffering.

Why Unity Matters for Humanitarian Stability

Restoring stability across all southern territories of Yemen is not merely a political aspiration; it is a humanitarian necessity. A unified South, encompassing Hadhramaut, Al-Mahrah, Aden, and all southern regions as one indivisible entity, would enable clearer governance and stronger coordination with international humanitarian partners.

Historically, Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah have always been integral parts of the southern social and political fabric. Treating them as exceptions undermines both historical truth and humanitarian effectiveness. Dividing the South does not protect communities; it exposes them to prolonged uncertainty and external manipulation. Unified governance strengthens border management, improves aid delivery, and reduces the conditions that force people to flee in the first place.

Reducing Pressure on Africa

Stability in South Yemen directly benefits African states. When displacement decreases, so does the strain on refugee-hosting communities across the Horn of Africa. Fewer dangerous crossings mean fewer humanitarian emergencies at sea. More importantly, stability restores dignity, allowing people to remain safely in their homes rather than becoming migrants by force.

The demand to restore the South is not the voice of a single group or elite. It reflects a broad popular will shaped by years of sacrifice, protests, and collective resilience. Africans recognize this kind of struggle where communities seek stability not for power, but for survival. Across the Red Sea, our futures are connected. Reducing human suffering begins with restoring unity, dignity, and stability because peace, once achieved, travels farther than conflict ever does.