«Suspicious Role»: What Does The Interior Minister Seek For?

Over the past period, Yemeni Interior Minister Ibrahim Haidan issued many decisions and appointments in several Southern governorates which have been totally rejected by political and community parties as well as local residents. They have been seen as being attempts to stir up chaos and conflicts. 

Most of these decisions focused on appointing security commanders from outside the relevant governorates or those who don’t enjoy internal popular support. Additionally, he dismissed other officials who are rivals to the Islah party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s branch in Yemen. 

These decisions raised questions about the objectives sought by the Interior Minister who was appointed by the then President Hadi in December 2020 based on the Riyadh Agreement between the government and STC. Some of the decisions taken by the man led to violence that killed dozens of civilians and military personnels. 

On August 7th 2022, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Haidan appointed Colonel Marwan Al-Sabai as the Chief of Staff of the Special Security Forces in The Wadi and Desert of Hadramout. Appointing Al-Sabai, whose hometown is Marib and affiliated with the Islah party, has been met with widespread rejection in Hadramout as the local residents there call for enabling them to manage their own affairs. In an official statement, the leaders of the “Second Hadrami Uprising” said that they reject the decision reiterating their demand to expel the First Military District forces from Wadi Hadramout. Moreover, STC’s assistant executive body in the districts of Wadi and Desert Hadramout issued another statement in which it denounced the decision. The statement said: “We refuse all decisions which play into the Muslim Brotherhood and challenge and encroach on the Hadramis' desire to manage their military and security affairs".

The decision came concurrently with a battle that erupted in Ataq after what was then described as an “insurgency” of security and military forces affiliated with the Islah party against Governor Awad Al-Awlaki. Haidan was accused of supporting Abd Rabbo Lakaab, former Commander of the pro-Islah Special Security Forces.

On August 23rd of that year, the decisions of Haidan, who is mostly based in Seiyun, extended to Al-Mahra governorate which borders Oman. The Interior Minister appointed Northern officer Saleh Mohammed Nasser Al-Mawry as Commander of the Special Security Forces in Al-Mahra according to press sources. In response, the Head of the General Council for People of Al-Mahra and Socotra, Sultan Abdullah bin Isa Al Afrar, called for Al-Mahra’s residents to stand up together in the face of imminent dangers. Al Afrar said: “Al-Mahra has national and qualified cadres to manage its own affairs like other governorates".

On Jan 23rd, the Military Authority of the Army and Southern Security in Al-Mahra held a meeting and refused another figure appointed by Haidan as Commander of the Special Forces in the governorate, Colonel Akram Al-Majhali former Commander of Central Security Forces in the governorate. The Authority asked STC to “abolish the decision and appoint a new commander from Al-Mahra’s people as well as appointing efficient and impartial commanders in the security and military institutions. 

On February 10th, Abyan witnessed much tension due to another decision by Haidan to appoint Lieutenant Awad Al-Fadli as Chief of Staff of the Special Security Forces in the governorate. The decision has been rejected by the Security Department in Abyan led by Brigadier General Ali Al-Kazmi. The decision led to limited clashes in the headquarters of the Special Security Forces in the city of Zinjibar. This followed shootings carried out by soldiers affiliated with the Interior Minister according to local sources who spoke to “South24 Center” before the problem was defused. 

A joint statement issued by the commanders of Abyan Military Axis and Abyan’s Security Department declared “thwarting” what they described as “a conspiratorial plot” which targets “Abyan’s security, safety and stability as well as sparks the fire of sedition among its people through decision whose aim is to spread chaos”.

Haidan’s decision in Abyan came concurrently with the second phase of Operation “Arrows of the East” carried out by the Southern forces against AQAP in central Abyan months after the reconciliation with the government forces deployed in the city of Shuqrah against the Southern forces during battles that erupted in Abyan in 2020.