Mukalla (South24 Center)

Tankers carrying much-needed fuel for power stations in Coastal Hadramout were intercepted by armed tribesmen in the Rasb area in Hadramout Plateau, South Yemen, on Monday (November 10). The Second Military Region Command has vowed to pursue those involved in detaining the tankers and bring them to justice.

In a statement, the Command of the Second Military Region said that "an armed group affiliated with a civilian tribal checkpoint led by a tribal figure in the Al-Ramad area blocked the main road in Rasb and intercepted the fuel tankers headed to operate power stations along the coast."

The statement added that "limited clashes erupted between the armed men and the protection forces accompanying the tankers, resulting in injuries to two civilians who were immediately transferred to the hospital for treatment."

The Second Military Region Command affirmed that it "will not permit any actions threatening the security and stability of Hadramout or disrupting citizens' interests”, and added that it has opened an investigation into the incident and pledged to "pursue all those involved and bring them to justice."

These developments come at a time when South Yemeni governorates are facing increasing pressures due to public service crises, particularly electricity shortages, with delays in fuel deliveries to power generation plants being one of the most significant challenges in recent months.

The Hadramout Tribal Alliance, led by Sheikh Amr bin Habrish, faces accusations of being behind the electricity fuel crisis in Coastal Hadramout, due to the alliance putting up armed checkpoints around oil sources.

Conversely, the Tribal Alliance accuses the local authority and central government of neglecting Hadramout, and failing to fulfill commitments to residents, as well as involvement in oil-related corruption.