Al-Abr, Hadhramaut, Yemen - On Thursday, August 8, 2024, tribes from Western Hadhramaut province in eastern Yemen gathered in Al-Abr, responding to a call for escalation by the "Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance" against the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The tribes are demanding greater rights and a share of the province's resources.

Sources within the tribes told "Barran Press",that the "Sai'ar, Kinda, Karb, Nahd, Al-Barik, Bani Marrah, and Al-Ja'dah" tribes assembled in Al-Abr, establishing tribal camps. They are demanding political and economic rights for Hadhramaut, including a share of the province's wealth.

The Sai'ar tribe and allied tribes from the western districts of Hadhramaut have set up armed checkpoints on the international road in Al-Abr district.

In a speech to the gathered tribes, the director general of Al-Abr district and a member of the Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance leadership, Salem bin Mubarak Al-Sai'ari, emphasized their full support for the demands of the Hadhramaut people, as articulated by the Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance and the "Comprehensive Hadhramaut Conference." Al-Sai'ari, who is also the head of the Comprehensive Hadhramaut Conference office in the western desert districts, stated that demanding rights for Hadhramaut is a "legal right guaranteed by the system and the law."

He expressed disappointment at the lack of response to their demands for basic services in Al-Abr district, which houses the Al-Wadi'ah border crossing, a crucial source of revenue for the Yemeni government. He highlighted the irony of the district, a major revenue generator, lacking basic services.

Last week, tribal armed groups from the Hadhramaut plateau gathered in tribal camps, responding to an earlier call from the Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance. They aimed to halt oil exports from the province until the Presidential Leadership Council and the government addressed their demands.

The Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance had given the Yemeni government a 48-hour ultimatum to fulfill their demands, which centered on "genuine and effective partnership" regarding oil reserves in the Dhaba port and the Masila oil field.

In response, the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, described the political demands of the people of Hadhramaut as "legitimate." He emphasized the council's commitment to addressing these political demands, which he said are "now represented in the central institutions and are also managing local affairs in all areas."

In a televised interview with Hadhramaut's official television channel, Al-Alimi highlighted the council's and the government's commitment to fulfilling the legitimate service demands of the people of Hadhramaut and their political and societal components. He stated that the council and the government support Hadhramaut's demands and prioritize them, recognizing the province's potential and its unique status as a model for peace, security, stability, inclusivity, and a haven for all Yemenis.

Regarding Hadhramaut's share of oil revenues, Al-Alimi confirmed the Presidential Leadership Council's and the government's commitment to the decision to grant the province its allocated share of oil export revenues. He indicated that the government will not only adhere to this but will also prioritize additional projects for Hadhramaut if state revenues increase and peace and security are achieved in the country.

Al-Alimi addressed attempts to exploit Hadhramaut's demands to disrupt the interests of the people and undermine security and stability, calling them "unacceptable."

He stated, "Hadhramaut has never been known to disrupt the interests of its people, but on the contrary, it has always been a model of security and stability for all its factions and components."