Mukalla, Yemen – The Hadramawt Governorate in eastern southern Yemen is experiencing heightened political and security tensions following a wave of arrests targeting several leaders and members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC’s executive body in the governorate condemned the arrests as “an intimidating and repressive approach,” asserting that it aims to stifle the southern voice in one of the most sensitive arenas.
Arrests without legal justification
The Executive Committee of the Southern Transitional Council’s local leadership in Hadramawt issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it described as “arbitrary arrest campaigns and illegal prosecutions.”
The Committee noted that the latest of these violations was the arrest of the Director of the Youth and Sports Department, Ali Faraj al-Tombashi, who remains detained by security forces in Mukalla without any legal justification. The Committee held the responsible authorities fully accountable for his safety.
Violation of rights and protection of freedoms
The statement affirmed that these practices constitute a blatant violation of the public rights and freedoms guaranteed by law, and aim to suppress the citizen’s right to peacefully express their just cause. The statement also noted that these methods do not serve civil peace in Hadramawt, but rather deepen divisions.
A message of resilience: The compass will not deviate.
The organization stressed that intimidation tactics will not deter the people of the South from continuing their legitimate struggle to restore the “State of South Arabia.” It also affirmed that these measures are “evidence of the enemy forces’ impotence” in the face of popular support for the southern national project.
International appeals and anticipated escalation
The executive body called on international and regional human rights organizations to intervene immediately and fulfill their legal and humanitarian obligations regarding the violations committed by the local authorities in Hadramawt, and to exert pressure to halt the persecutions and ensure the rule of law. Observers believe that the policy of arrests in Hadramawt has backfired, increasing public awareness and cohesion, and revitalizing southern political demands in the face of what is described as a “desperate security crackdown.”
