Economic failure in Socotra sparks popular protests

SOCORTA, July. 23 (YPA) – Deterioration of living situation and the collapse of the value of the riyal against foreign currencies have pushed the popular discontent to mount in Socotra province.
This came as a result of the failure of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s authority to deal with crises in the archipelago.

Local Sources familiar with the matter said that the province’s governor loyal to the STC, Raafat al-Thaqali, vowed to target any protests organizing in the province, directing the security belt’s forces to deploy.

On Saturday, Al-Shakhmi tribe in Qalansiya Island of the province issued a statement condemning the suppression and arrest of citizens, including leaders, from homes and streets by the security belt’s forces belonging to the STC during an angry protest demonstration against the deteriorating living conditions and high prices.

Last week, the STC militia arrested its allied leaders, Ahmed Ali Bahafiqa and Ali Saeed Al-Rashdi, because of their refusal of the deteriorating living situation, high prices, and lack of salaries, in conjunction the directives of the Emirati representative, “Khalfan Al Mazrouei” to the governor, to suppress the protests that moved to the island after the southern and eastern provinces.

AA