Aidarus al-Zoubaidi Meets Russian Officials During Moscow Visit

In his social media posts, al-Zoubaidi made no reference to his formal role within Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Instead, he emphasized the historical ties between Russia and the people of southern Yemen, noting that the meetings focused on shared interests and potential cooperation in political and economic fields. He highlighted Yemen’s promising investment opportunities in sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, and fisheries.

This visit is widely interpreted as part of al-Zoubaidi’s broader separatist agenda. While Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, had previously visited Russia and met with President Putin, southern factions believe that strengthening ties with Moscow could help advance their goal of re-establishing an independent South Yemen.