SHABWA, Yemen — On January 8, 2024, local residents of Marakhah Al-Sufla in Shabwa province, eastern Yemen, closed the office of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in a protest against the council's communication team, led by Sheikh Rajeh Bakrit, for not visiting their district during its ongoing tour of the province.

According to a local source who spoke to Barran Press, the protesters not only closed the office but also removed the STC flag from the building and dismantled the sign bearing the council's name. They chanted slogans such as "No STC from today," criticizing the delegation as nothing more than a "photo op and feast."

Protesters claimed that the STC team failed to visit Marakhah Al-Sufla, did not present any projects, and did not hold any political festivals in the area. They warned that any future STC representatives would be met with resistance.

The STC's political awareness team, headed by council member Rajeh Bakrit, who has been accused of embezzling billions of riyals, arrived in Shabwa on December 16, 2024, for an official visit that lasted until January 7, during which they visited various districts and announced several projects.