Yemen: Escalating tensions in Hadramout amid military movements and calls for sit-ins.
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
Hadramout Governorate, in eastern Yemen, has been witnessing escalating tension for days against the backdrop of military movements and calls for sit-ins, amid increasing popular and political discontent, with warnings of the situation sliding towards internal confrontations that deepen division and put oil wealth at the mercy of the conflict. Military deployment near oil fields Yesterday, the "Hadrami Elite" forces sent large reinforcements to the Al-Adwa camp in Al-Masilah District, east of Hadramout, in a move they said aimed to "lift the siege" imposed on the forces protecting companies inside the oil region. Local reports quoted security sources as saying that "the movements came after monitoring what they described as attempts to change the map of control inside the oil areas, amid the arrival of military parties affiliated with the First Military Region." Calls for sit-ins in the valley and the coast In contrast, popular movements have escalated in Seiyun city and the Wadi Hadramout areas, where activists and social figures have called for an open sit-in in front of official institutions, demanding the exit of the First Military Region forces and the handover of the security file to local forces. The organizers of the movement affirmed that "the demands of the people of Hadramout are clear and legitimate, foremost of which is the establishment of full Hadrami control over the security, administrative, and economic decision-making of the governorate." Official warnings of chaos The local authority in Hadramout issued a statement calling on all parties to exercise restraint, warning against "any attempts to destabilize security or incite chaos," and stressing that "any steps outside state institutions will be considered a threat to stability and will not be tolerated." For his part, the commander of the First Military Region said in press statements that "the situation cannot bear escalation," calling on everyone to "adhere to institutionalism and stay away from speeches that incite internal confrontation." A power struggle over oil fields? Observers believe that what is happening in Hadramout goes beyond being a security dispute, but is a struggle for influence and control over oil wealth, amid the overlap of internal and regional parties. "Oil is considered the primary driver of the conflict, and there is clear competition between local forces supported regionally to control the fields, which threatens a dangerous division in Yemen's largest governorate." Hadramout today stands at a crossroads, between a scenario of stability through a clear political settlement, and a scenario of division and military escalation that could ignite a long conflict over resources, identity, and power. As military forces continue their deployment, and city squares prepare for sit-ins, the biggest question remains: Who has the final say in Hadramout? Will the language of dialogue prevail, or will the governorate be left to face its fate alone?
