President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, ordered the formation of a presidential committee to address the demands of the people of Hadhramaut Governorate (eastern Yemen). This comes amidst rising tensions in the governorate, fueled by demands put forth by the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance.

According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the presidential committee includes Dr. Salem Ahmed al-Khanbashi, ministers Salem bin Brik and Tariq al-Akbari, Sheikh Saleh Salem al-Amri, Sheikh Abdullah Saleh al-Kathiri, Major General Abdul Rahim Ahmed Atiq, Sheikh Marouf bin Abdullah Ba'abad, Sheikh Saleh bin Omar al-Sharfi, and Dr. Mohammed Salem Bahebri.

Al-Alimi instructed the committee to "consider the demands of the people of Hadhramaut and submit proposals for their resolution in accordance with the law, based on the commitments and understandings announced with the local authority and political components in the governorate."

The President of the Presidential Leadership Council emphasized "empowering the committee to fully carry out its duties for the benefit of the people of the governorate and strengthening the role of its local authority."

The official agency stated that al-Alimi's directives come "based on the understandings announced during the recent presidential visit to Hadhramaut Governorate, and in embodiment of national responsibility and the desire to involve all components in contributing to overcoming the current financial crisis in the governorate caused by Houthi attacks on oil facilities and international shipping routes."

According to the agency, al-Alimi expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the local authority and political components in strengthening unity, keeping the governorate away from any internal tensions or disputes, and focusing on its development and alleviating the suffering of its citizens.

He affirmed "the Presidential Leadership Council and the government's commitment to strengthening security and stability in Hadhramaut and fulfilling the aspirations of its people as a model to be emulated at all levels."

On August 4, the President of the Presidential Leadership Council concluded a multi-day visit to Mukalla, the capital of Hadhramaut Governorate, which he arrived at on July 27, accompanied by Council members Abdullah al-Alimi and Othman Majli. This marked his second visit to the governorate since assuming leadership of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen in April 2022.

Al-Alimi's visit to Hadhramaut came at a time when the governorate was "facing intertwined financial and developmental challenges since the Houthi attacks on oil facilities, export ports, cargo ships, and international shipping routes."

Simultaneously with the visit, the governorate witnessed several events and protests by political and social components demanding that the internationally recognized Yemeni government recognize the rights of the people of the governorate to services and their share of the revenues from their oil wealth.

The tension in Hadhramaut Governorate reached a point where the Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance, during a meeting on July 31, 2024, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Yemeni government to fulfill its demands centered around "a genuine and effective partnership" regarding the oil reserves in the Dhuba port and the Masila field, threatening to take control of the Dhuba port.