Local official reveals Saudi pressures to form “Dera Al-Watan” factions in Mahra
MAHRA, Jan. 06 (YPA) – A senior local official has confirmed that the governorate of Mahra is not a testing ground for temporary management through patronage or short-term projects that increase divisions and conflicts among its people.
Badr Kalashat, the Deputy Governor of Mahra for Youth Affairs, hinted in a post on social media platform “X”, on Sunday that the local authority, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, had succumbed to Saudi pressures by forming the so-called ” Dera Al-Watan” factions from Salafi groups in the governorate.
He stated that Al-Mahra province is built on customs and traditions that ensure its security and stability, and its people will not allow their security to become a bargaining chip or a means to serve narrow interests.
He added that “talk of a Mahri force or one loyal to the people of Al-Mahra has emerged as an ambiguous framework driven by those with narrow interests,” pointing out that such divisions and conflicts would create tensions that do not serve the security or stability of Al-Mahra.
He noted that if the authorities are genuinely concerned with preserving security and securing the future of its youth, they must manage the security file wisely and transparently, starting with the selection of competent leadership, the assignment of qualified personnel, and the establishment of clear criteria for choosing members, ensuring fair distribution and genuine partnership between all districts to enhance security and stability.
Kalashat continued, ‘If the authorities are simply implementing directives from the center as if they are unreviewable binding orders, without considering the uniqueness and reality of Al-Mahra, it raises questions about the independence of the decision and whether it truly aligns with the interests of the governorate and its people.
It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia is seeking to form the “Dera Al-Watan” factions from Salafi groups to protect the oil pipeline passing through Mahra to the Arabian Sea, a project that was thwarted by the tribes of Al-Mahra in 2018, led by Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Huraizi.
Saudi Arabia removed Sheikh Al-Huraizi from his position as Deputy Governor of Mahra due to his opposition to the Saudi project, amid rejection of foreign presence in the province.
@E.Y.M