Yemenis helping Yemenis

Hadhrami Elite Force educates citizens to combat terror

UNIPATH STAFF

Arab coalition forces began recruiting Hadhrami youth in 2015 to help liberate their cities from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). This initiative was part of a strategy to restore stability to Hadhramout province and the region. The response was quick, with hundreds of young Hadhrami people flocking to recruitment centers, and within months, the Hadhrami Elite Force was fully prepared to regain its land from the grip of AQAP gangs.

Formed under the auspices of the United Arab Emirates (UAE); funded by Saudi Arabia; equipped with tanks, weapons and logistics; and provided with tactical and technical assistance from the United States, the Hadhrami Elite Force has worked to bring stability to the region, in part through a public information campaign. Among other efforts, the force set up a tip line for concerned citizens to report suspicious activity and contribute to their communities’ security.

The Hadhrami Elite Force is composed of Soldiers from Hadhramout’s tribes and trained by Emirati and Jordanian security officers. The force is under the command of the 2nd military zone of the Yemeni Armed Forces, which includes Hadhramout province and its coastal areas.

The formation

The main purpose for creating the force was to liberate the city of Mukalla from AQAP. When it gained control over the governorate, AQAP sought to integrate itself into the local community by adopting a culturally resonant name, introducing itself as Abna’a Hadhramout, or Sons of Hadhramout.

To ingratiate themselves further with the community, the Sons of Hadhramout affiliated with influential leaders and tribal sheikhs. They also provided services such as fuel, water, electricity and — most important — security at a time when the official government could not do so. Left in desperate need of basic services by the Houthis’ fight for their predominantly Sunni city, the people of Hadhramout welcomed the Sons of Hadhramout with open arms. The group’s popularity increased during its one-year control over the city because it provided jobs and gave stipends to needy families.

On April 13, 2015, the Hadhramout Domestic Council was created, allowing local scholars, leaders and Sons of Hadhramout to jointly manage the governorate. In an interview with Al Jazeera in September 2015, the council’s secretary-general, Abdul-Hakeem bin Mahfood, said that the leaders of Hadhramout believed they had no choice but to work with Sons of Hadhramout to prevent bloodshed in the governorate. By November 2015, however, it was clear that the Sons of Hadhramout were unwilling to share power, rendering the Hadhramout Domestic Council ineffective.

Concerned by the council’s failure, as well as the increasing influence of extremist Salafists, the Yemeni government in exile decided in April 2016 to launch a massive operation against AQAP in Hadhramout.

The operation, which included Saudi fighter jets, Yemeni and UAE ground forces, and U.S. drones, eventually retook Hadhramout. The commander of the 2nd military zone, Maj. Gen. Faraj Salmeen al Bahsani, led thousands of Army troops and the Hadhrami Elite Force to clear Mukalla, provincial capital of Hadhramout. On April 24, 2016, the troops regained control of Mukalla and other coastal areas that had been under AQAP’s control for more than a year.

Challenges

Detailing the challenges facing the Hadhrami Elite Force, Yemeni political analyst Nadia Al-Sakkaf said: “The Elite Force’s main challenge is not keeping AQAP away from Hadhramout, but rather the so-called Islamic State’s [Daesh’s] branch in Yemen, which has claimed responsibility for several attacks since the Yemeni government took control over Hadhramout in April.”

“Even after the recapturing of the main areas of the governorate by Yemeni government troops and the creation of the Hadhrami Elite Force, there are many youth who are still loyal to the Sons of Hadhramout,” Sakkaf added. “It is not only a matter of a religious sentiment; in fact, locals identify intensely with their region, which, for historical reasons, has been socially and geographically isolated. That regional loyalty transcends even the religious one.”

The hashtag “Mukalla’s security is everyone’s responsibility” is on a poster created by the Hadhrami Elite Force.

AQAP in Hadhramout must be addressed differently than other terrorist groups in the region, Sakkaf said. Because the Sons of Hadhramout are viewed as part of the local community, locals see harsh security measures against it as an attack on the Hadhrami community itself — especially since many AQAP members in Hadhramout are members of well-known families in the area.

“The real challenge the Hadhrami Elite Force faces is the fight against [Daesh] and the stabilization of the governorate,” Sakkaf said. If the state institutions can’t deliver services to their citizens, “it is very likely that the Hadhrami people would prefer to be ruled by AQAP than to starve.”

Educating citizens

Educating and informing citizens is one of the most effective ways to counter the threat of violent extremism. The Hadhrami Elite Force plays a leading role in countering these threats by blocking extremists’ efforts to radicalize, recruit and mobilize sympathizers. To increase community awareness, the Hadhramout Elite Media launched social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram to communicate with community members.

The Hadhramout Elite Media launched an awareness campaign asking citizens to report suspicious activities, those who are suspected of involvement in terrorist acts or those who are trying to disrupt citizens’ security and stability. The campaign included messages on social media, as well as a short film about citizens’ roles in achieving and preserving security.

The campaign called on citizens to report suspicious activities through the campaign’s Twitter hashtag, printed on posters and billboards. The awareness campaign was based on two themes: security awareness and reporting. Among the popular messages were: “Don’t kill your brother with your silence,” “Mukalla’s security is everyone responsibility,” and “Your security awareness helps defeat terrorism and enemy plots.”

The campaign also encourages citizens to support their brothers in the Hadhrami Elite Force. In this regard, the Hadhramout Elite Force assured citizens that reporting to the tip line would be anonymous and would save the lives of their family, friends and neighbors.

In a statement to Golden News, the force’s leadership emphasized that it sought to build communication and engagement channels with members of society desiring to report any suspicious individuals or behavior. The leadership noted that it protects people’s identities, especially those who report terrorists or wanted criminals. This procedure aims to enhance cooperation between citizens and security forces in Hadhramout to counter terrorism and other crimes.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Maj. Gen. al Bahsani said dozens of people were rescued through tips from the community. The general praised the role of citizens in cooperating with the security apparatus.

“The citizen is the cornerstone of … keeping security and stability in Hadhramout,” he said. “What heartened us in the 2nd military zone is the daily volume of tips we received. Citizens report any suspicious activities by AQAP elements or any suspect trying to destabilize our security and spread chaos. This behavior confirms that Hadhrami citizens are keen on security and reject terrorism and extremist ideologies. There is no local incubator for terrorists.”

Sources: Marebpress.net, Golden News, Al-Monitor, Asharq Al-Awsat

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