UAE Occupies Yemen’s Socotra Island, Wants It the “Eighth Emirate”
YemenExtra
M.A.
Surprisingly, Emirati troops arrived in Socotra, in an unexpected visit to the island, coinciding with a visit by the prime minister of Hadi government, Ahmed Ben Dagher, to the island.
Local sources confirmed that in conjunction with the visit of Ben Dagher, four Emirti aircrafts landed at the airport carrying one hundred Emirati soldiers, four different armors and various weapons.
According to these sources, the UAE forces expelled the Yemeni forces assigned to protect the airport, and spread throughout the area.
Ben Dagher recently visited Socotra, accompanied by a number of his cabinet ministers, to launch some development projects and look after the island that is located between the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The Britich newspaper ” daily mail” reported from Yemeni security officials in the island, that the UAE is strengthening its presence on the island of Socotra.
According to residents and observers, the UAE forces in Socotra were acting as if the island is part of their own territory, which expressed an insult to Hadi’s government, who is claiming legitimacy.
The UAE cargo planes unloaded tanks, armored vehicles and heavy equipment in Socotra, according to Yemeni officials in the island.
The newspaper pointed out that the government of Hadi is at odds with the UAE, even though it is officially allied in the war against Ansarullah, also known as the Houthis in Yemen.
On the other hand, the Independent newspaper mentioned that the conflict in Yemen puts the island of Socotra at the heart of a new conflict between the Hadi government, which was described as weak, and the geopolitical ambition of its ally, the UAE.
In a video report, the Independent mentioned that Socotra was one of the recent UAE acquisitions in the framework of building its “empires outside its territory,” including controversial projects in Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia.
Moreover, the newspaper pointed out that the Abu Dhabi government established a military base and a communications networks in Socotra, in addition to seeking for census as it has been inviting the people of the island to travel to Abu Dhabi, whereas they have been promised to be provided with health care and work permits.
The newspaper also mentioned that due to the lack of transparency, concerns have been raising throughout Socotra towards the plans of the UAE, especially in the absence of media, and the inability of journalists to enter the island, according to the newspaper.
The newspaper added that the occupation of Socotra coincides with the possibility of forming a new south in Yemen or what it is called “the eighth Emirate.”
The UAE, which consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, acts as if Socotra Island is the eighth Emirate in Yemen.
Furthermore, there are fears of transferring the treasures of Socotra Island to Abu Dhabi on weekly flights away from Yemeni censorship.
Yemeni activist Tawakul Kerman accused Hadi and his prime minister of “legitimizing the occupation” on Socotra Island.
She said in a tweet that the UAE occupied Socotra during the visit of Ben Dagher, noting that it landed a military force on the island that took control of the airport and expelled the Yemeni forces from the airport.