Aden (South24 Center) 

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) announced a plan to rehabilitate and integrate more than 10,000 soldiers from Al-Mahra Governorate into the security and military institutions; in a move it said aims to empower residents to manage their own security and protect their areas. The announcement was made on Saturday (December 20) by Rajeh Bakrit, a member of the STC’s Presidium.

The announcement followed a meeting held on December 18 between the President of the Southern Transitional Council and Supreme Commander of the Southern Armed Forces, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, and a delegation from Al-Mahra and Socotra governorates. The meeting addressed security and service conditions, during which Al-Zubaidi reaffirmed his support for strengthening the role of local populations in maintaining security and stability in their governorates.

Bakrit stated that Al-Zubaidi directed the rehabilitation of thousands of soldiers from Al-Mahra and their absorption into security and military formations, describing the step as a direct response to longstanding local demands to empower local forces. He noted that the plan would help close security gaps and address challenges related to smuggling and outlawed groups.

He added that enabling the people of Al-Mahra in security and military roles is part of a broader vision to reorganize forces on professional foundations, in line with regional security requirements and border protection. He also indicated that similar measures could be extended to other governorates in the coming phase.

Al-Mahra occupies a strategic location in eastern South Yemen and has experienced security imbalances in recent years, amid the presence of northern military units led by officers from outside the governorate. Local complaints have persisted over the limited effectiveness of checkpoints and the increase in smuggling activities along land and coastal borders.

The Southern Armed Forces have recently deployed in Al-Mahra as part of “Operation Promising Future,” which expelled northern forces of the First Military Region from the Wadi and Desert areas of Hadramout in early December.