Suqutra

Conflict background

The overall hostilities that started in 2015 did not reach Suqutra island due to its isolated location off the mainland, with the Houthis subsequently being pushed out of most of the south of the country by Saudi-led Coalition forces in the early months of the war. The island, however, has since been a point of contention between the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) and UAE-backed groups, with the latter undertaking a major project to develop Suqutra into its main base for air, naval, and special operations forces in the Gulf, as well as the central command center for six naval bases located across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean.³Zach Vertin, ‘Red Sea Rivalries: The Gulf, The Horn, & The New Geopolitics of The Red Sea,’ The Brookings Doha Center, August 2019, pp. 2-6

The UAE, which has long-standing historical ties to Suqutra,⁴Fatima Abo Alasrar, ‘Protracted Conflict on Yemen’s Island of Suqutra Reflects Rival Geopolitical Ambitions,’ Middle East Institute, 8 May 2020 significantly increased its presence in the governorate in 2015. Initially, it offered relief aid to residents following the dual Chapala and Megh cyclones that hit the island in November,⁵The National, ‘UAE has pledged $110 million in humanitarian aid to Suqutra since 2015,’ 31 July 2021 which devastated local infrastructure and damaged the local fishing industry. Eventually, the UAE went on to establish a notable military presence on Suqutra over the following eight years.⁶The New Arab, ‘UAE boosts military presence on ‘occupied’ Yemen Suqutra island,’ 2 May 2018 Initially, Emirati influence was focused on soft power – rebuilding Hawlaf port, constructing and renovating schools and mosques, establishing hospitals and medical facilities, and paying extra salaries to public servants, tribal leaders, and other key social figures – but has steadily built up its military presence.⁷Bethan McKernan and Lucy Towers, ‘Suqutra island: The Unesco-protected ‘Jewel of Arabia’ vanishing amid Yemen’s civil war,’ The Independent, 2 May 2018 

Administratively, though, the governorate was still run by a bloc formed by the Islah and Socialist parties, which had joined forces in 2004 to oppose the policies of then-president Ali Abdullah Saleh and had since built ties to his successor Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.⁸Al-Masdar Online, ‘The Socialist in Suqutra at the crossroads of unity, secession and foreign intervention,’ 6 June 2020 The growing Emirati presence also pushed Saudi Arabia into considering its position concerning the strategic island chain, beginning to implement competing reconstruction and humanitarian projects on Suqutra to build a foothold in the Gulf.

Although physically removed from the mainland, Suqutra was still subject to the same political tensions as the rest of the country; most notably, the escalating rivalry between the Hadi government and the STC that was turning violent in Aden by January 2018. The tensions came to a head on Suqutra three months later in April, when during a rare visit by then-Prime Minister Ahmad bin Daghir, hundreds of Emirati troops landed on the island, took control of the airport and seaport, and deployed tanks and armored vehicles at key points.⁹Lucy Towers, ‘Suqutra is finally dragged into Yemen’s civil war, ripping apart the island’s way of life,’ The Independent, 10 May 2018 The prime minister and 10 of his ministers were prevented from flying off the island back to Aden. The IRG accused the UAE of an “act of aggression” in occupying the island and issued a complaint to the United Nations Security Council.¹⁰Al-Jazeera, ‘UAE forces ‘occupy’ sea and airports on Yemen’s Socotra’, 4 May 2018

The incident prompted a wave of protests across the island, both against and in support of a continued Emirati presence. Before the situation could escalate any further, however, Saudi mediators brokered a deal for the replacement of the UAE troops with their own forces and the return of the air and sea port to local IRG control.¹¹Masrawy, ‘Agreement on the UAE’s withdrawal from Suqutra after Saudi forces entered it,’ 14 May 2018 Nevertheless, Emirati soldiers remained, albeit in a more discreet role.¹²Al-Mawqea Post, ‘The Yemeni government accuses the UAE of sending separatist soldiers to Suqutra,’ 8 May 2019 The underlying tensions, though, remained on the mainland and the island, re-emerging in mid-2019 when fighting resumed between IRG and STC forces in Aden.¹³Rafid Jaboori, ‘Governor of Suqutra Vows to Confront UAE Allies,’ The Jamestown Foundation, 7 May 2019

The hostilities ended in November after the parties reached a Coalition-brokered truce deal, the ‘Riyadh Agreement,’ which stipulated the formation of a new unity government and the UAE announced the gradual withdrawal of its forces from Yemen. As with other IRG-controlled areas, despite the Riyadh Agreement, Suqutra continued to witness simmering tensions and intermittent skirmishes between the parties, while the UAE was accused of sending military shipments to support STC-affiliated forces on the island over the next two years.¹⁴Yemen Press Agency, ‘Emirati arms shipment arrives in Suqutra port,’ 20 November 2021

Deputy Governor Ramzi Ahmad Said Mahrus, a Suqutra native who rose through the ranks of the Yemen Socialist Party, and had led government protests against Emirati efforts to recruit hundreds of locals into a new Security Belt, was promoted by then-President Hadi to the governorship in April 2018. However, the IRG and STC announced parallel political and military appointments, sparking brief confrontations between partisan units until the greater Emirati influence led the bulk of the island’s key forces to declare loyalty to the STC and South Yemen.¹⁵Al-Jazeera, ‘UAE-backed Separatists Take Control of Suqutra,’ 21 June 2020

Mahrous was increasingly sidelined over the next three years as the STC’s and UAE’s influence grew. The situation was resolved in 2022 as the STC took control of the island as part of President Hadi’s ouster under the terms of the Saudi-dictated handover of power to the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) in April. The STC appointed its local branch head, Rafat al-Thaqali, as the new governor, whom the PLC formally ratified in July.¹⁶SABA NET, ‘Appointment of Raafat Ali Ibrahim Al-Thaqali as governor of the Suqutra Archipelago,’ 31 July 2022