A/HRC/42/CRP.1 213. In October 2015, the United Arab Emirates and the Yemeni Government came to an agreement according to which the United Arab Emirates commander in Yemen would rotate every six months, on the proviso that President Hadi would appoint Major General Aidarous Qassem al-Zubaidi as Governor of Aden, Salafi Sheikh Hani Bin Breik as State Minister, and Major General Shallal Ali Shaye as Director of Aden Security.271 214. Between October 2015 and June 2019, at least 30,000 Resistance fighters from Aden, al-Dhale’e, Abyan and Lahij were regularised into the Security Belt forces, which were equipped, trained, and funded by the United Arab Emirates. 272 During the same period, the United Arab Emirates established, recruited and supported the Shabwani Elite in Shabwah Governorate, and the Hadrami Elite in the southern half of Hadramaut Governorate. The stated purpose of these armed groups was to establish security in their areas of operation. By the end of 2016, United Arab Emirates forces and the United Arab Emirates-backed forces had achieved overall control over most of Aden, Lahij, Abyan, Shabwa and southern Hadramaut, and they had largely expelled AQAP and the Islamic State.273 215. The Government also incorporated other local Resistance groups into the Government armed forces, which together with other regular forces, retained control of areas including southern Ta’izz, al-Dhale’e, and northern Hadramaut. 216. Between February and May 2017, United Arab Emirates and Security Belt forces fought against Government and coalition forces for the control of Aden airport. As a result, on 27 April 2017, President Hadi relieved Minister of State Bin Breik and Governor alZubaidi of their positions. Security Belt leaders and fighters who defied the United Arab Emirates orders to attack Government forces were relieved of their commands by the United Arab Emirates, and some joined the Government forces. Some were victims of reprisal attacks by Security Belt and linked groups as a result. 274 There were a number of demonstrations against the Government calling for an independent South Yemen. On 11 May 2017, Bin Breik and al-Zubaidi, together with 10 other politicians, founded the Southern Transitional Council, claiming it to be the legitimate representative of southern Yemenis. 217. In January 2018, the Southern Transitional Council publicly declared it was launching a coup, following which Security Belt forces attacked Government-held areas of Aden. President Hadi publicly acknowledged the coup attempt. By 30 January 2018, the Southern Transitional Council declared victory in Aden, with the Security Belt achieving complete control of the governorate. Government ministers fled the country and Yemeni armed forces withdrew from all areas of Aden apart from the Presidential Palace and two military bases. Hani Bin Breik later stated that the attacks were ordered by the coalition.275 In May 2018, the Government established the Southern National Council, purporting to represent the interests of those in the South, as a rebuttal to the Southern Transitional Council. In July and October 2018, the Southern Transitional Council made declarations that the Government was hostile to the South, declared an imminent coup if the Government did not abdicate, and called for a popular uprising. 218. In September 2018, Hani Bin Breik stated publicly that Southern Transitional Council forces consisted of the ‘resistance military forces’ under the operational command 271 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. 273 Confidential Sources on File. 274 Confidential Sources on File. 275 Comprehensive Report on File compiled by the Group, containing relevant written and video statements made in social media, via the STC website, or via reliable media outlets, by Sheikh Hani Bin Breik, Major General Aidarous al-Zubaidi, Major General Shallal Ali Shaye, and Southern Transitional Council spokespersons between 2015 and July 2019. See for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz-4UsInABY. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83SkH0d8TYY. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSfLlGz41a4&feature=youtu.be; https://www.alarabi.com/s/17280. 272 51