UAE-Backed factions impose one million fee on each commercial truck in Shabwa

SHABWA, Oct. 18 (YPA) -Traders in Yemen’s Shabwa province have expressed outrage over what the ongoing illegal financial levies imposed by UAE-backed armed groups at checkpoints on goods-laden trucks.

According to a statement released by the traders, each truck is being charged more than one million riyals, a cost that they say is inflating transport and commodity prices, deepening the financial crisis on residents amid an already severe humanitarian crisis.

They described the levies as “outright extortion,”  as they are imposed under vague terms such as “development” and “improvement” without any legal framework or government oversight.

The traders noted that these levies burden the commercial sector further the suffering of the population amid ongoing price increases.

They urged authorities loyal to the Saudi-led coalition to put an end to the violations against the trade sector and provide a safer environment for investment.

The move comes amid worsening humanitarian and economic conditions in Shabwa and other coalition-held provinces, where residents face difficulties obtaining basic needs, as salaries remain unpaid for a fifth month and critical services — especially electricity — collapse.

@E.Y.M