Saudi Arabia's efforts to mediate the escalating conflict in Yemen suffered a setback Wednesday as the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group seeking independence for southern Yemen, refused to attend talks in Riyadh, deepening the rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the STC's primary backer. The STC delegation, comprised of more than 50 people, claimed they were arbitrarily detained upon arrival in the Saudi capital and taken to an undisclosed location, according to a statement released by the council.

The alleged detention of the STC delegation further complicates Saudi Arabia's attempts to regain influence in Yemen, where the UAE-backed separatists have been vying for control of the southern region. Saudi officials and the Saudi government's Center for International Communication did not respond to requests for comment regarding the STC's allegations or the whereabouts of the delegation.

The conflict in Yemen is rooted in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings, which created a power vacuum that Houthi rebels exploited, seizing control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition, including the UAE, intervened in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. However, the alliance has since fractured, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE supporting opposing factions. The STC, advocating for the independence of South Yemen, a nation that existed until unification with the north in 1990, has become a key player in the power struggle.

The UAE's support for the STC, despite being part of the Saudi-led coalition, highlights the diverging interests within the alliance. While both countries initially aimed to counter Houthi influence, the UAE has increasingly focused on securing its own strategic interests in the region, including control over key ports and maritime routes. This divergence has led to clashes between Saudi-backed and UAE-backed forces in southern Yemen, further destabilizing the country.

The refusal of the STC leader to engage in talks and the alleged detention of the delegation underscore the deep mistrust and animosity between the separatists and the Saudi government. The events on Wednesday coincided with shifts in allegiance on the ground in Aden, the capital of southern Yemen, where fighters previously loyal to the separatists reportedly switched sides to support the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The future of the Saudi-led mediation efforts remains uncertain, and the deepening Saudi-UAE clash threatens to further prolong the conflict and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, already one of the world's worst.