Shabwa (South24) 

Large crowds in Shabwa governorate, South Yemen, called on Tuesday for the removal of the pro-Islah local authority in the governorate and renewed its adherence to President Hadi and the Riyadh Agreement.

Hundreds of tribal people attended a popular meeting in Al-Watta area of Nisab district, invited by President Hadi's advisor, Parliament member and the tribal Sheikh, Awad Mohammad bin Al-Wazir Al-Awlaqi, which was welcomed by the governorate's STC.

This meeting came amid military tension in the oil-rich Shabwa governorate, after the Houthis took control of three districts. Dissident officers accused the Muslim Brotherhood branch, the Islamic Islah party and the authorities of the governor, Mohammad bin Adyo, of planning this.

A statement issued by the meeting said that the participants called on President Hadi to "save Shabwa" and "remove the current local authority, which has brought the governorate to this tragic and extremely dangerous situation."

The statement demanded "the formation of a special committee... to investigate the fall of the three Beihan districts into the hands of the Houthis without any significant resistance, and to dismiss all responsible for this and refer them to trial."

The statement called on "the President of the Republic, the parity government, and all relevant authorities to obligate the Shabwa authority to supply all the revenues of Shabwa Governorate to the Central Bank of Aden, according to the provisions of the Riyadh Agreement."

The statement demanded "the implementation of the provisions of the Riyadh Agreement, the change of local authority, and completing the security and military arrangements in a way that defuses the crisis."

Awad Al-Wazir had demanded, during a speech he delivered at the meeting, "to replace the governor of Shabwa, Mohammad Saleh bin Adyo, and the appointment of a new governor who will unite the Shabwani people with all its components."

The official governorate authorities have not yet commented on this meeting, as of writing this report.

Reports stated that the authorities cut off the communication network within the area where the meeting took place.

The governor of Shabwa had launched a scathing attack on the UAE and the pro-STC forces in the governorate. In an interview with the Russian news agency Sputnik, he described them as "no less dangerous than the Houthis."

The STC congratulated the success of this meeting in Shabwa.

The STC spokesperson Ali Al-Kathiri, said that the STC supports "the outcomes of the Shabwa meeting and everything that would enable its people to defend it and manage its affairs."

Al-Wazir, a prominent tribal figure, arrived in Shabwa on November 5, after absence for years, and following the tense situation in Shabwa and the escalation of Houthi threats in the governorate.

A number of military leaders, officers and soldiers had announced their defection from the pro-Islah local authorities, accusing them of planning to "hand over Shabwa to the Houthi militia."

In August 2019, pro-Islamists government forces took control of Shabwa, after military confrontations with the pro-STC forces.

On that note, the STC and the internationally recognized government signed, in November 2019, the Riyadh Agreement, sponsored by Saudi Arabia, which provided for the formation of a 50-50 government between North and South.

STC President Aidrous Al-Zubaidi and a high-ranking delegation arrived on Monday to the Saudi capital Riyadh at an official invitation from Saudi Arabia. 

South24 Center for News and Studies

Photo: Al-Watta meeting in Shabwa, November 16, 2021 (activists)