Hadramawt Governor Calls for a Preliminary Hadrami–Southern Dialogue to Address the Marginalization of the Governorate Since 1967
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Governor of Hadramawt, Salem Mahdi Al-Khanbashi, has called for convening a preliminary Hadrami–Southern dialogue aimed at addressing the effects of marginalization that the governorate has suffered since the independence of South Yemen in 1967. This would pave the way for the launch of the planned Southern–Southern dialogue to be held in Riyadh.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Al-Khanbashi said that this preliminary dialogue represents a fundamental step toward enabling Hadramawt and southern Yemen to reach consensus on issues related to the rights of the southern governorates in a comprehensive manner. He stressed the need for Hadrami representation to reflect the uniqueness of the governorate and to highlight its just cause in any future political settlement.
The governor—who is leading operations to take over military camps in Al-Mahra and Hadramawt following the removal of separatist forces—added that Hadramawt must be an effective player in any upcoming political formula, whether a multi-region federal state or other arrangements. He expressed his support for the option of the Eastern Region, which would include Hadramawt, Shabwa, Al-Mahra, and Socotra, considering it a reflection of the aspirations of the people of the region to participate in decisive decision-making regarding the future of the south and Yemen.
Al-Khanbashi noted that a series of meetings has been held among political, social, and cultural components in Hadramawt with the aim of formulating a unified vision that represents citizens’ concerns and serves as a comprehensive local reference to be presented during the Southern dialogue discussions.
He confirmed that the Southern Dialogue Conference scheduled to be held in Riyadh will address the southern issue in all its aspects and seek to find fair solutions to address the roots of accumulated tensions, in preparation for submitting its recommendations to any comprehensive dialogue on the Yemeni crisis.
The Governor of Hadramawt concluded by emphasizing the importance of achieving justice and fair representation for the components of the south—foremost among them Hadramawt—considering this a national necessity for Yemen’s stability and future. He expressed hope that the anticipated dialogue would contribute to building genuine understandings and shared aspirations leading to practical solutions that would end the long-standing state of exclusion and marginalization endured by the governorate for many years.
