Socotra Tribal Coalition: Absence of Legitimacy in Socotra Creates Space for Undermining Yemen’s Sovereignty

Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:

The Socotra National Conference announced on Monday its categorical rejection of the unilateral steps recently announced under the name of self-governance.

In a statement, the preparatory committee for the Socotra Conference stated that it had followed the latest developments in the Socotra archipelago, which have burdened us all with rising prices, the deterioration of the purchasing power of the currency, and the worsening of the political and security situation in the governorate, dragging Socotra into strife and tearing apart the social fabric, starting with the issue of restructuring tribes to achieve goals that do not serve Socotra and the future of its people.

The statement said: Out of the preparatory committee’s keenness on the interests of the people of Socotra, it affirms its rejection of the unilateral steps that were recently announced under the name of self-governance and do not represent  Socotra consensus.

The Presidential Council and the government were held responsible for failing to normalize the military and administrative conditions in the governorate, providing petroleum products and gas, and improving services after the 2020 events. This has resulted in administrative and development failure, the marginalization of the people of Socotra, and the imposition of a monopoly on everything, as well as raising the prices of air tickets in hard currency, which has caused suffering for the island’s residents.

It affirmed that the absence of the legitimate government’s role in Socotra and the lack of oversight over the performance of the local and military authorities have created a large space for tampering with the country’s sovereignty and the rights of its people.

It also affirmed its support for the position of the sheikhs and tribal leaders who reject interference in tribal affairs and the cancellation of all void measures that have harmed the social fabric and for which the local authority bears responsibility and must be canceled.

It called on political parties and tribal leaders to issue a rejection and condemnation of self-governance.

It condemned the exploitation of people’s needs and forcing them to sign political projects and threatening them with deprivation of their entitlements, which is a void process and constitutes coercion that cannot be relied upon.