| Southern Transitional Council takeover of Socotra | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofYemeni civil war andSouthern Transitional Council conflict | |||||||
.jpg) UAE and STC-operated roadblock in Socotra | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Yemen | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Khalfan al-Mazrouei Raft al-Taqlee | Abdrabbuh Mansur HadiRamzi Mahroos [ar] | ||||||
On 21 June 2020, theUnited Arab Emirates-backedSouthern Transitional Council (STC) took over theSocotra Archipelago Governorate.[1][2]
After theArab Spring reached the capital of the island,Hadibu, locals began to rise against the then-President of Yemen,Ali Abdullah Saleh. During this period of instability, theUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) has sought to expand its presence in the region, framing its actions as humanitarian aid missions. This engagement has contributed to the increasing politicization and militarization of Socotra.[2]
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Protests in Socotra followed the pattern of protests in mainland Yemen, calling for "political reform" and "the end of the regime and its corruption". With the rise ofinternet access, locals divided into two camps: those calling for a Socotran governorate independent of theHadhramaut Governorate of eastern mainland Yemen, and those demanding anautonomous federal region. In 2013, the Socotra Archipelago became theSocotra Governorate.[2]
A series of cyclones,Chapala andMegh in 2015 andMekunu in 2018, struck the archipelago[3][4][5] causing severe damage to the main island's infrastructure, homes, roads, and power. Due to the collective impacts of the cyclones, the UAE sent an aid ship and plane, carrying blankets, tents, and barrels of food.[6] The Emiratis also rebuilt the infrastructure and established the "Sheikh Zayed City" and rebuilt the port of Hadiboh and theairport. The UAE's habit of operating and expanding infrastructures was not a new practice for the UAE, as they have done the same thing with the port cities ofMokha,Aden andMukalla; in doing so, they established ties withSouthern Movement-related groups and militias, most notably theSouthern Transitional Council (STC).[2]
In 2016, the UAE increased supplies delivered to Socotra, which had been neglected due to pressing mainland concerns during theongoing conflict. In October 2016, the 31st cargo aircraft landed inSocotra Airport carrying two tons of aid.[1][7] At that time, the UAE also illegally established a military base on the island as a part of theSaudi Arabian–led intervention.[1]
In 2017, Emirati troops were deployed to the island as part of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention. The UAE also provided more than $2 billion in aid to Yemen, with a significant portion of that funding directed toward Socotra. These actions sparked criticism and led to rumors suggesting the UAE attempted to occupy the island.[8][1][9] The UAE denied those claims.[10]
On 30 April 2018, the UAE deployed over a hundred troops with artillery and armored vehicles to the Yemeniarchipelago ofSocotra in theGuardafui Channel without prior coordination with the Yemeni government, causing the relations of the two countries to deteriorate. The initial deployment consisted of UAE military aircraft carrying over fifty UAE soldiers and two armored vehicles, followed by two more aircraft carrying additional soldiers, tanks, and other armored vehicles.[11][12] Al Jazeera reported that shortly after landing, UAE forces dismissed Yemeni soldiers stationed at administrative installations such asSocotra Airport and seaports until further notice, and theflag of the United Arab Emirates was raised above official government buildings inHadibu.[13] On 14 May an agreement was reached between the UAE and Yemen which saw Yemen regain administrative control andSaudi Arabian troops also being deployed to the island.[14]
Since 2019, the UAE-backed STCSecurity Belt Forces has significantly expanded its presence on the island. The fighters involved primarily originate from Aden and the southwestern regions of Yemen.[2]
Between April and June of 2020, the UAE deployed hundreds of mercenaries to Socotra, taking control of key positions throughout the island, including the capital,Hadiboh.[15]
On June 21, 2020, theSouthern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of government facilities and military bases on Socotra Island following opposition from the island's governor, Ramzi Mahroos, to the establishment of a pro-Emirati local force. This action prompted a swift withdrawal of Saudi forces from the area. The takeover by the STC represented a significant shift in control, allowing the UAE to exercise indirect authority over Socotra. Reports indicate that the wages for Socotrans are allegedly paid by the UAE. Additionally, a unit from the localYemeni Coast Guard defected and aligned itself with the STC during this transition.[10]
The archipelago's governor later fled toOman and continued to govern the archipelago usingWhatsApp.[15] According toLe Monde diplomatique, "Raft al-Taqlee [...] is not really in command, but rather Khalfan al-Mazrouei, an Emirati who heads a welfare organization in his own country," and is behind the 2018 occupation and this coup.[15]
TheHadi-led internationally recognized government of Yemen initially called the takeover "a full-fledged coup".[1]
A 2021 report byAgence France-Presse highlights that the flags of the STC are significantly smaller than the larger flags of the UAE that are seen at police checkpoints. Additionally, the report indicates that the newly established communication links connect directly to UAE networks instead of Yemen's official network, YemenNet.[2][11]
In 2023, thePresidential Leadership Council, which integrated the STC into the government, appointed al-Taqlee as thede jure governor of the Archipelago. Under his rule, peaceful protests against the coup and the UAE's interference in Socotra were dispersed with violence, and journalists who criticized the coup were arrested and beaten.[15]