Sudden Closure of Socotra University Leaves 800 Students Facing an Uncertain Fate

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:

Today, dozens of students from the University of Socotra Archipelago held an angry protest in front of the university headquarters to denounce the sudden closure decision made by the supporting entity (the United Arab Emirates) following the end of its presence within the Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen.

In a statement issued during the protest, students expressed their shock at the decision to suspend studies and evacuate the university’s teaching staff, 98% of whom come from outside the archipelago.

According to the students, they were informed that the university would cease operations on January 30, placing the future of 800 male and female students in jeopardy.

In their statement, the students appealed to the Presidential Leadership Council, led by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, and the Ministry of Higher Education to intervene immediately to save the future of the 800 students. They demanded that the university be converted into a public institution under the Yemeni Ministry of Higher Education to ensure its independence and stability, and that an official operating budget be allocated.

The protesters called for distancing education from political conflicts and rejected “arm-twisting” policies that use education as a bargaining chip in other files. They emphasized that they would continue peaceful escalation through all possible means until the university reopens its doors, holding the local authorities and relevant parties fully responsible for the potential loss of the academic year and years of educational effort.