Yemen: Hundreds protest against UAE control of Socotra Island

Hundreds of Yemenis marched through the city of Hadiboh, the capital of the Socotra Island, yesterday to protest against the UAE forces taking control of the governorate.

Protesters gathered in front of the Summer Land Hotel where visiting Prime Minister Ahmed Bin Daghr and his delegation were staying and read a final statement in which they expressed full support for President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and his ability to “protect national sovereignty, unity, safety, security and stability in Yemen”.

The protesters also expressed their support for peace based on the outcomes of the national dialogue, the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism and UN Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2216.

READ: Yemen government slams UAE troop dispatch on Socotra island

The UAE deployed a military force in the island and took control of the airport and harbour during the prime minister’s visit.

In a statement on Sunday, the Yemeni government said the UAE military’s actions were “unjustified”. According to the statement, the core of the dispute “revolves around national sovereignty and who is entitled to exercise it, and the lack of a solid level of joint coordination that seemed missing in the recent period”.

The government confirmed that on the third day of Bin Daghr’s visit to Socotra, four Emirati military aircrafts carrying armoured vehicles and more than 50 soldiers arrived on the island.