Faraj Al-Bahsani (local media)

التالى السابق

PLC Member Labels Hadramout Events an "Armed Rebellion"

REPORTS - منذ 3 ساعات

Eyn Al-jnoub:

A member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Major General Faraj Salmeen Al-Bahsni, on Tuesday (December 2) accused former Hadramout Tribal Alliance head Sheikh Amr bin Habrish of leading an "armed rebellion" that targets the governorate's stability. He also criticized the Presidential Council for its failure to confront what he described as an "escalating danger" for months.

In a speech broadcast on the Southern Transitional Council-affiliated Aden Independent channel, Al-Bahsni stated that forming armed groups outside the state's authority, led by bin Habrish, constitutes a "rebellious and condemned act." He warned that allowing such groups to spread "will open the door to long-term conflicts in Hadramout."

Al-Bahsni added that the raiding of oil company sites by elements loyal to bin Habrish represents a "sabotage operation targeting the local economy and threatening energy security."

Furthermore, Al-Bahsni accused the Presidential Council of failing to address the developments since their inception, stating that the current situation is a "direct result of not decisively quelling the rebellion at the time." He stressed that his previous warnings about the dangers of these extra-governmental formations "were not heeded," which has made the security situation in the governorate "more fragile and complicated."

In a related context, Al-Bahsni called on various segments of society, including tribes, scholars, and social figures to "condemn the rebellion" and rally behind the state and the Hadrami Elite Forces, which he described as the "safety valve for Hadramout's stability."

He also denounced the assaults by the First Military Zone's forces on unarmed citizens in Seiyun, calling it "unacceptable conduct and contrary to the duties of official forces."

A South24 Center correspondent had previously reported on November 30 that "the First Military Zone forces detained hundreds of buses, preventing thousands of participants from reaching their destination. The forces also fired live ammunition and detained some participants in an open sit-in called for by protesters on Monday."

Al-Bahsni noted that the entry of Southern forces into Hadramout was "to combat terrorism following the spread of AQAP, ISIS, and Houthi groups in the governorate's valleys," pointing out that this proliferation was a primary driver behind calls to restructure the security apparatus.

The situation grew more complex with the emergence of support for bin Habrish's rebellion from controversial figures, including former AQAP leader Riyadh Al-Nuhaidi. Al-Nuhaidi called to "defend Hadramout" alongside bin Habrish, a stance that raised fears of attempts to exploit the security chaos.

Additionally, the "Al-Mahra Sit-in Committee," affiliated with Sheikh Ali Al-Harizi, announced on November 25 its solidarity with the Hadramout Tribal Alliance led by bin Habrish, while also attacking the security support commander of the Hadrami Elite Forces.

On Monday, the PetroMasila company announced a halt to all production and refining operations at its facilities and fields in Sector 14 since November 29, due to deteriorating security conditions around the oil installations.

The company explained that the cessation of gas pumping has led to a gradual shutdown of gas facilities and the power station. It expressed regret over the impact on residents' lives and voiced hope for the return of stability to the governorate