UAE in Yemen: An Occupying state controls ports and robs oil
Political and popular circles in Yemen come to agree to describe the UAE as an occupying country in the light of its policies based on controlling ports and looting the country’s oil to serve its ambitions.
This prompted Al Mahwit Governor in North Yemen, Saleh Samie, to publicly demand Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the de facto ruler of the Emirates, to take his hands off ports, oil, and gas in Yemen.
Through militia loyal to the country, the UAE controls major ports in Yemen, while refusing to withdraw its elements from the Balhaf Gas Station, the largest economic project in the country in Shabwa governorate.
The Yemeni government accuses the UAE of supporting the “separatist” Southern Transitional Council to serve its own goals in Yemen, which Abu Dhabi denies.
Tensions rose between the government and the UAE-backed Transitional Council after the latter announced, on April 26, self-rule on the southern governorates, which was met with Arab and international rejection.
Yemen suffers an ongoing war between pro-government forces and Houthi militia, which have controlled several provinces, including the capital, Sanaa, since 2014.
Yemeni investigative journalist and researcher Mohammed Al-Ahmadi says that the UAE is setting fire in the Arab region, while Turkey is always striving to extinguish it.
Al-Ahmadi describes the growing Emirati role in the Arab region as “saboteur”, as Abu Dhabi took advantage of the preoccupation of Cairo and Riyadh.
He goes on to explain: “The Egyptian role declined regionally after the coup against the late president Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected civilian president. As well as, the Saudi role declined due to preoccupation with the Yemen war and arrangements for the ruling house.”
“The UAE has supported the military coups, the creation of rebel armed militias, the financing of violent groups and money laundering, to undermine security and Arab peace and control the national decision of states.
“The foreign policy of the Emirates lacks an ethical and moral framework for its attitudes and behavior towards Arab countries.
“The UAE suffers from the phobia of the rise of the forces of democratic change after the Arab Spring, which makes it in a state of hostility with countries that believe in their right to political participation.
“The Arab countries have become a stark example of the absence of political and moral responsibility for Abu Dhabi in dealing with the crises of the region.
“Yemen suffers the worst humanitarian tragedy in the world, while the UAE continues to perpetuate fragmentation, deepen chaos, divisions, and violations that amount to crimes against humanity.
“The UAE usually uses the war on terrorism as an excuse to undermine counter-terrorism efforts and implement the largest enrichment of violence and terrorism in Yemen.
“The Emirates not only seeks to control and acquire Yemeni sea and air vital sites, but it is also cripple its role in order punish the Yemeni people.”
