The recurring argument that Hadhramaut or Al-Mahrah should be administered outside the broader southern political project is often presented as a protective measure. Supporters frame it as a way to preserve local identity or shield these regions from conflict. However, a closer look reveals that this narrative serves a different purpose altogether—maintaining guardianship and external dominance rather than empowering local populations. Hadhramaut and Al-Mahrah are not political exceptions; they are historically and socially rooted within the southern landscape. Proposals to manage them separately disregard decades of shared political experience and weaken the principle of collective southern self-determination. Fragmentation does not enhance stability. Instead, it creates political grey zones where accountability is blurred and influence is exercised indirectly through security arrangements, economic pressure, or foreign-backed intermediaries. Claims of “special management” often...