“Presidential Leadership Council” tensions rise; “Al-Alimi” and “Afash” feud delays Mocha Airport opening

SANAA, Oct. 17 (YPA) – Conflict has flared up once again among factions within the Saudi-led coalition-backed “Presidential Leadership Council”, this time over the operation of the Mocha airport, west of Taiz province.

The council’s president, Rashad al-Alimi, and UAE-aligned council member, Tariq Afash (Tariq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh), stand at odds regarding the management of the vital facility constructed by the UAE.

A political source confirmed on Thursday that Al-Alimi strictly refuses to permit the airport’s operation unless it is handed over to the coalition-affiliated “Civil Aviation Authority” in Aden for revenue control, a condition Afash completely rejects.

Conversely, Afash has proposed operating the airport through a specialized company, which the source suggests is likely to be Emirati, a move observers view as solidifying UAE dominance over strategic Yemeni ports.

This new conflict highlights an attempt to restore revenues to the internationally recognized government (pro-coalition government in Aden), countered by the UAE’s insistence on economic and administrative control over strategic outlets, similar to what occurred previously at Hadibo Airport in Socotra Island.

These tensions follow delays in the official announcement of the airport’s opening, which had already raised questions, noting that the UAE has controlled coastal Mocha district since 2017, transforming it into a military base near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

YPA