WILAYAH NEWS VOICE OF THE GLOBAL AWAKENING
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News – Yemen: In a revealing interview on Almasirah TV’s program “An Hour for History,” Major General Luqman Baras, the Governor of Hadramawt, shed light on the dark legacy of British colonialism in the region prior to Yemen’s independence on November 30, 1967.
The British strategy, according to Baras, was multifaceted and aimed at division and control:
Strategic Focus on Aden: Britain first concentrated on occupying the strategic port city of Aden.
Fueling Internecine Conflict: They provided support to local Sultans, notably backing the Qu’aiti Sultan against the Kathiri Sultan, effectively surrounding and isolating the latter before the full occupation of Hadramawt. This tactic, Baras noted, was designed to “sow discord among the tribes.”
Creation of the “Desert Army”: A pivotal tool of control was the establishment of the so-called “Desert Army”. Baras revealed that its commander was British, and its method involved taking hostages from every tribe. This sinister policy aimed to “pit the tribes against each other,” preventing them from uniting in direct confrontation with British forces.
Economic and Social Disruption: The colonial administration disrupted traditional life. While tribes heavily relied on camels, the introduction of cars created significant problems. Furthermore, a dual-system of control was enforced: weapons were banned in the capital, Al-Mukalla, a rule reluctantly accepted by the populace, while carrying arms remained permissible in rural areas, perpetuating a divide.
The November 30 Revolution is celebrated as Yemen’s Independence Day, commemorates the withdrawal of the last British soldier from Aden in 1967, ending 129 years of colonial rule. This historic milestone followed years of armed struggle known as the Aden Emergency, led by the National Liberation Front (NLF) and other resistance groups.
Today, southern Yemeni governorates are witnessing growing tensions and widespread public dissatisfaction over the continued presence of Saudi and UAE forces in eastern and southern Yemen, where political, military, and economic influence efforts have sparked accusations of a new form of occupation.
