Mukalla, Yemen – On Saturday evening, a spontaneous protest took place in the city of Mukalla, Hadramawt Governorate in eastern Yemen, against the widespread deployment of forces loyal to the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Saudi-backed “Homeland Shield” forces. The protest followed the intensified entry of these forces into the governorate in early January 2026. This deployment was part of a military and administrative operation aimed at regaining control of military sites and areas in Wadi Hadramawt, Seiyun, and the desert region. This followed the withdrawal or retreat of Southern Transitional Council forces from several of these areas.
The protesters chanted slogans demanding the immediate withdrawal of these forces from Hadramawt. They considered their presence an infringement on the local sovereignty of the people of Hadramawt and a contributing factor to increased security and social tensions.
They also called for respecting the “will of the people of the province” and confining security matters to local Hadrami forces only, without any external or regional interference. This was a direct reference to the Saudi role. The demonstration was characterized by its spontaneous, grassroots nature. Meanwhile, activists on social media circulated posts accompanied by hashtags such as #SouthArabiaState and #SecondIndependence. This reflects either southern separatist tendencies or local Hadrami demands rejecting Yemeni central control or Saudi influence in the province.
These protests come amid a military escalation in Hadramawt that began on January 2, 2026, when the “Homeland Shield” forces, backed by Saudi air support, launched operations to recapture military positions from the Southern Transitional Council (STC). Clashes erupted in several areas, including al-Khash’ah.
Subsequently, some camps and positions, including the 37th Brigade camp, were handed over to the “Homeland Shield” forces. This occurred despite the STC’s rejection of the handover and an exchange of accusations between the two sides.
According to local reports, the demonstration became even more tense after emergency forces detained a number of participants, including a bus carrying protesters. This exacerbated the already volatile situation in the city. Meanwhile, other areas in Hadramawt, such as Al-Abr, are witnessing different kinds of protests, with members of the emergency forces demanding payment of their overdue salaries. This comes after their participation in recent military operations.
