NYN | News
The head of the Peaceful Sit-in Committee in Al-Mahra Governorate, Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Huraizi, reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the “peaceful struggle” against what he described as the “Saudi-Emirati occupation,”accusing the Presidential Leadership Council of implementing foreign agendas and “compromising national sovereignty and selling Yemeni islands.”
Al-Huraizi’s remarks came during an expanded meeting held on Sunday with leaders and members of the Al-Ghaydah Sit-in Committee, which was dedicated to discussing recent developments and the growing risks facing the governorate amid the intensifying Saudi and Emirati military and political movements in eastern Yemen.
Al-Huraizi said that the meeting aimed to unify positions and strengthen field coordination among the various sit-in committees, stressing that the current phase requires collective awareness and organized action to protect Al-Mahra from foreign domination projects.
He pointed out that Al-Mahra continues to face renewed attempts to impose foreign guardianship through political, religious, and military tools, affirming that the people of the governorate remain committed to the path of peaceful resistance until the restoration of national decision-making and the complete withdrawal of foreign military forces.
Al-Huraizi revealed that since Saudi forces entered Al-Mahra in 2017, they have sought to recruit Yemenis and form local forces to ensure their continued influence. However, according to him, the people of the governorate thwarted those efforts through their steadfastness and awareness, which led to the withdrawal of most Saudi troops — except for a limited number who remain stationed at Al-Ghaydah Airport.
He explained that hopes for a full withdrawal of Saudi and Emirati forces have faded following recent political developments, describing the military presence in Al-Mahra as having turned into a long-term occupation project targeting ports and vital entry points as part of a strategic plan to control eastern Yemen.
Al-Huraizi warned of Saudi moves targeting the religious and social identity of Al-Mahra and Hadhramaut by attempting to impose the strict Hajouri doctrine instead of the Shafi‘i school, describing such steps as a “soft infiltration policy”aimed at expanding influence and weakening the social fabric.
He also criticized the formation of what is known as the National Shield Forces, considering them foreign formations that do not represent the people of Al-Mahra, but rather serve as tools to entrench the occupation under a local cover, reaffirming the committee’s rejection of any military or security presence managed from abroad.
Al-Huraizi stressed the need for the management of border crossings, ports, and security and administrative institutions to be in the hands of Al-Mahra’s people, expressing the Sit-in Committee’s readiness to cooperate with local authorities on security and anti-smuggling issues — provided that decisions originate internally and are not imposed from outside.
In conclusion, Al-Huraizi directed sharp criticism at the Presidential Leadership Council and its chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, accusing them of “implementing Saudi directives, legitimizing militias, and selling Yemeni islands,” warning that remaining silent about this path would lead the country toward further fragmentation and the loss of sovereignty.
