The September 21 Revolution: The Legitimacy of the Battlefield Topples Dependent Entities and Restores Yemen’s Free Position in the Equation of the Ummah
The September 21 Revolution was not a fleeting episode within the context of Yemen’s crisis; rather, it marked a historic turning point that redefined the concepts of sovereignty and legitimacy, and early on exposed the true nature of externally linked entities that claimed to represent Yemen while, in reality, serving as tools for regional projects competing over influence and wealth.
21 September | Special Report
September 21 and the Exposure of the False “Legitimacy”
From its inception, the September 21 Revolution raised the banner of national independence and rejection of foreign tutelage, placing it in direct confrontation with forces of dependency. Over time, events validated its course, as the so-called “legitimate government” was exposed as a decision-less entity living outside the country, receiving its directives from foreign capitals, and lacking any real capacity to govern territory or represent the people.
Recent developments have fully laid bare the nature of the Saudi and Emirati roles in Yemen. It is no longer hidden that disagreements between the two are managed through local proxies, and that the objective was never to restore the so-called “legitimacy,” as claimed, but rather to divide influence and seize control of ports, islands, and sovereign resources. This conflict—recognized early on by the September 21 Revolution—stripped dependent entities of their last fig leaves and confirmed that they are merely tools in a battle of interests unrelated to Yemen or its unity.
The Fall of “Hotel Legitimacy” and the Rise of September 21 Legitimacy
The declaration by the so-called Southern Transitional Council of a secession project, and its control over most southern areas with Emirati support and funding, provided further evidence of the collapse of the so-called “legitimacy” project. The return of ministers and officials affiliated with the south openly endorsing secession rendered the so-called Presidential Leadership Council—composed of eight members—a body without spirit, riddled with contradictions, and devoid of any national or political legitimacy, effectively and practically marking its fall.
In contrast to this collapse, the September 21 Revolution established a new reality, embodied in the formation of a national authority in Sana’a, represented by the Government of the Supreme Political Council. This authority exercises control over most of the land and population, preserves social cohesion, enforces security, and—despite siege and pressure—seeks to achieve relative economic stability and manage state affairs with national responsibility.
The impact of the September 21 Revolution did not remain confined to Yemen’s internal arena; it restored Yemen’s independent presence in the causes of the Ummah, foremost among them its supportive stance toward Gaza. This position, reflecting an independent popular will, elevated Yemen’s regional and moral standing and affirmed that when national decision-making is independent, it becomes a source of strength and respect rather than a card in foreign hands.
Thus, developments have proven that the September 21 Revolution was not merely an internal movement, but a liberation project that early on exposed the falsity of client entities and dismantled the illusion of “legitimacy” manufactured beyond Yemen’s borders. As the camp of dependency fractures and its agendas collide, the legitimacy of the battlefield and sovereignty in Sana’a are today consolidated as the sole banner of a free Yemen—while the responsibility of the current phase rests on the people’s awareness and their unity around an independent national project that safeguards Yemen’s unity, dignity, and role within its Arab and Islamic surroundings.