UAE strengthens its armed grip on Hadramout gold mines

HADRAMOUT, July 12 (YPA) – The UAE forces have consolidated their armed control over gold mines west of Mukalla city, the provincial capital of Hadramout, eastern Yemen.

The UAE forces, based at Al Rayyan Airport, deployed armed factions from the Barashid Brigade, led by Abdul Daim Al Shaibi, to Wadi Al Masini and Madan to enhance their control over the gold mines, reaching the gold-rich Mifa’a Hajar Mountains.

Over the past few months, these forces have brought in dozens of armed elements from the Southern Transitional Council (STC)’s camps in Aden, Dhalea, and Lahj province, south of Yemen.

They have seized control of almost five gold mines in Hadramout, including the Al-Natisha mine in Wadi Madan, west of Mukalla, which is considered the largest gold mine in Yemen, since 2016, under the pretext of combating terrorist elements.

The UAE transported gold ore from mines near the Hadramout coast by the port of Mukalla to its factories, granting certain percentages to certain loyalist leaders. The gold is then smelted and sold on Dubai’s stock exchanges, with no revenue contributing to Yemen’s economic recovery.

AA