Tensions Between Tribes and Separatists Keep Growing in Shabwa

The family of Al Sulaiman in Shabwa still calls for bringing the murderers of its member, Sadam Al-Sulaimani, to justice, and his tribe released a statement, giving the concerned authorities in Shabwa a 20-day ultimatum to identify the individuals who kidnapped Al-Sulaimani from his home and tortured him to death.

Separatist fighters belonging to Shabwa Defence Force, a militant separatist group, arrived in Al-Sulaimani’s village on August 29 and began attacking him with the buts on his head, according to the Tribes’ Sheikhs’ statements. The militants took him to an armored vehicle, moving him to Aden Airport, which lies under the separatists’ control.

When Al-Sulaimani was taken from his village, his family did not expect he would be beaten to death. However, on September 6, the family was notified that Al-Sulaimani died. 

Kidnappers deny killing

In a statement, the Shabwa Defense Force said that Al-Sulaimani was one of the most dangerous terrorist elements, claiming that he had confessed to his association with  Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen. It also claimed that Al-Sulaimani died due to chronic diseases, namely kidney failure and weak heart muscle. However, the victim’s family said he was not connected to any terrorist group, was healthy, and had no health issues.

Using violence to eliminate opponents

The Shabwa Defense Force is a militant separatist unit, militarily and financially supported by the United Arab Emirates. This Force and other secessionist fighters took over Shabwa in August of 2022 with the help of aerial support from the UAE. After they seized the province, they used excessive force to eliminate their critics or opponents.

The American Observatory for Human Rights report revealed that the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militants committed 355 violations against civilians in Shabwa over three days in August 2022.

According to the report, the violations and crimes committed by the separatists include murders, injuries, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances, targeting densely populated neighborhoods with missiles such as mortar shells, looting, raiding and searching citizens’ homes, and destroying infrastructure.

Political observers say that the separatists’ continued use of violence against civilians in Shabwa will lead to severe consequences as the tribal community will run out of patience and resort to using weapons to defend themselves. This will throw the province into chaos.