South Yemen pushes for independence with UAE support

Socotra (Yemen)In the Socotra archipelago, all the flags of Yemen, the country to which it officially belongs, have disappeared. At the entrances of official buildings, on the uniforms of police officers and soldiers, on car decals, and even at the country's main football stadium, the national flag has been replaced by one featuring a triangular stripe of light blue with a red star in the center. This is the flag of South Yemen, the former socialist republic that existed between 1967 and 1990, during the period between British decolonization and the country's unification. The civil war that erupted in 2015, and which continues at a low intensity, has fragmented Yemen into three governments. With the support or instigation of the United Arab Emirates, the government that controls the south is pursuing a process of independence to return to the pre-1990 borders.

In a square in the center of Hadibo, the capital of Socotra, on the Indian Ocean, halfway between Somalia and mainland Yemen, a tent and a platform with banners demanding the independence of South Yemen are permanently set up. Every afternoon, hundreds of people gather there, engaging in speeches, dancing, and chanting slogans in favor of secession. The most popular chant is: "With our souls, with our blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for the South!" "This is a permanent rally for our independence. We will not leave the square until we achieve it. The international community must listen to us," proclaims Mukhtar Hanqasi, head of an Islamic charitable NGO with close ties to the Socotra government.

Although the secession of South Yemen is not on the international agenda, it is not a mere pipe dream. Currently, it already has a government, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which was created in 2017 and holds absolute control over the five provinces of the former socialist republic. Therefore, it could be said that the south already has a degree of independence.de facto.

A fragmented country

However, the break with the institutions of the rest of the country is not complete. Three leaders of the Supreme Tupac Katari (STS) are part of the Presidential Steering Council, Yemen's legitimate government according to the international community, which is leading the fight against the Houthis, a Shiite militia that controls the capital, Sana'a, and virtually all of the north of the country. Thus, as is also the case in Sudan and Libya, Yemen is today a country fragmented by a civil war that seems to have no end.

The conflict in this Arab country cannot be understood without the intervention and ambitions of its neighbors, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Taking advantage of the political instability that gripped Yemen after the fall of its president, the dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh, in one of the episodes of the so-called "Arab Spring," the Houthi militia staged a coup in 2014 and seized control of Sana'a and the north of the country.

Given their affinity with Iran, a historical enemy of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, these two countries decided to intervene militarily in Yemen, supporting the government deposed by the Houthis, which then relocated to Riyadh. This marked the beginning of an armed conflict that has devastated the country.Some estimates place the deaths caused by the war at more than 300,000. And according to the UN, nearly 20 million people, 60% of the population, need humanitarian aid to survive.

Although they were partners in the anti-Houthi military alliance, the inability to defeat them has led to bitter disagreements between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. In fact, in recent weeks, dozens have been killed in armed clashes between militias sponsored by both countries in the southeastern province of Hadramaut. The Emirati militia emerged victorious, consolidating its control over the entire southern territory of Yemen, now a kind of Emirati protectorate.

Emirati protectorate

This reality is very evident in Socotra, where many Emirati flags are visible, along with various infrastructure projects, such as the Sheikh Zayed Hospital, built by Abu Dhabi. In return, they are constructing a military base on Abdel Kuri Island to control the Gulf of Aden. Their significant influence is generating resentment among some locals. "They are taking some of the best land and building hotels. The Emirates are changing the economic model, and it will harm the people of Socotra," complains a businessman in the tourism sector.

In 2019, pressure from Abu Dhabi forced the resignation of the governor of Socotra, who is now Refaat Ali, an ally of the Emirates. His chief of staff, Fahmi al-Thaqly, describes the relationship between the two territories as one of "brotherhood," and asserts that it has been so for centuries. In contrast, he is highly critical of North Yemen. "Their government sponsors terrorism in the south and tribal militias. In the south, we want peace, not a tribal system," al-Thaqly emphasizes. Among the separatists, it is also argued that since unification, Sana'a has ignored the needs of the south while exploiting its resources, including modest oil deposits.

Although al-Thaqly expresses his full support for the Palestinian cause, he considers the Houthi attacks against Israel to be "pure propaganda," since they cannot aspire to defeat it. The agreement signed in Gaza under the sponsorship of Donald Trump It has reduced tensions in the region, and no incidents have been reported. More Houthi attacks in the Red Sea against ships heading for the Suez Canal. That's why, in recent weeks, some large logistics companies, such as the French CMA-CGM, have announced they will resume using this waterway after avoiding it for nearly two years.