Instability in Hadramout continues unabated

Instability in Hadramout continues unabated

 

Il movimento secessionista del Sud, Herak, continua a rimanere fermo nella sua richiesta di autodeterminazione e secessione, con una persistente campagna di disobbedienza civile che ogni settimana - ad Aden, Mualla, Mukalla e Lahji - viene repressa con la forza dalle armi. Nella provincia di Abyan e di Hadramout il quadro appare ancora più complesso, con i militanti di al-Qaeda nella Penisola Araba che mantengono alta la pressione sull’autorità centrale con attacchi quotidiani di cui è la popolazione locale in definitiva a pagarne il prezzo finale.

SANA’A, Dec. 4—New reports of armed clashes between state forces and alleged Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) emerged Wednesday morning in the Ghail Bawzeer district in Hadramout, according to officials.  There were no reported deaths or injuries.

There are security personnel stationed all over the governorate, the Interior Ministry previously told the Yemen Times.

In Ghail Bawzeer, residents have been warned not to go out at night, said Mohammed Bawzeer, the editor-in-chief of the local Shibam Public Newspaper.

 “Residents are dissatisfied with the presence of armed men and security forces. There is panic because of repetitive clashes and shootings,” he said.

“The entirety of Hadramout is tense,” said Colonel Hussein Hashim, the security manager of Sayoun in Hadramout.

A security analyst, Mohammed Al-Khalid, said efforts toward an ongoing security campaign in Hadramout will not be successful because it’s not comprehensive.  He says those targeted by it—mostly AQAP affiliates—will continue to jump from one area to the next.

Elsewhere in the governorate, in the aftermath of a security campaign in Al-Shehr city that began two weeks ago, dozens of houses were destroyed. The city remains under a 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew.

Markets close at 7:00 p.m., Mohammed Al-Qahoom, a local resident said. Everyone is doing their shopping in the morning, he added.  

On Monday in Sayoun, another believed AQAP stronghold in Hadramout, Sheikh Sad Bin Harish, the head of Hadramout’s tribal federation in Sayoun, was killed by state forces at a checkpoint right outside the city.

According to local officials, Harish, who was travelling with bodyguards refused to hand over weapons his convoy was carrying at the checkpoint.  Officials say Harish’s men fired first and a gun battle ensued.  Seven, including Harish, were killed in the clashes and four injured, according to Hashim.

The Defense Ministry’s website published a statement immediately following the incident, saying that Habrish was a member of Al-Qaeda. Later, the ministry retracted the statement and apologized to tribes in Hadramout. 

But as many predicted it seems Habrish’s fellow tribesmen may seek revenge against the state for his death.

Hashim said the situation in the city remains tense and that security forces are expecting armed men in the area to mobilize.

Sabri Masoud, the head of Haq Organization for Human Rights in Seyon, said security forces have withdrawn from four security checkpoints to avoid clashes. Hashim did not confirm this. But, Masoud says tribesmen are coming from districts outside of Sayoun to avenge the sheikh’s death.

 “They are coming to Seyon to agree on how to respond to Habrish’s murder,” he said.

Source Yemen Times