AL-MUKALLA: The Saudi-led coalition has accused Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen of forcing hundreds of African migrants to storm the Kingdom’s southern borders.
Col. Turki Al-Maliki told Al Arabiya TV that videos circulating on social media showing armed Houthis firing live bullets at African migrants in the northern Yemini province of Saada, proved that the militia was trying to undermine Saudi border security while attempting to provoke condemnation of the Kingdom from international rights organizations.
“The video showed the militia intentionally forced those migrants into heading into the Kingdom,” he said, adding that the Houthis also wanted to fuel Saudi public fears over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) into the country.
“In all cases, we deal with those infiltrators or migrants according to the humanitarian principles and regulations in the Kingdom,” Al-Maliki said.
The internationally recognized government in Yemen has recently come under heavy public pressure to stem the flow of thousands of migrants into the country from the Horn of Africa region, due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
A senior government official in Aden told Arab News that the Yemeni government was unable to effectively tackle the situation because its coastguard authority was understaffed.
“This is a big problem that we cannot handle on our own. We suggested to the UN organizations to collect the African migrants from the shores and send them to Kharaz refugee camp in Lahj. We cannot do anything to stop them from coming to Yemen,” the official added.
Yemen’s coastguard authority crumbled at the beginning of Houthi military expansion in early 2015, leaving the country’s long Red Sea and Arabian Sea coastline vulnerable to smuggling operations.
The Saudi-led coalition has trained hundreds of Yemeni coastguards and provided them with fast boats to patrol the coastal area between Hadramout and Mahra.
Despite the war in Yemen that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, African migrants continue to use the country as a transit point before reaching Saudi Arabia, their final destination.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that up to 10,000 African migrants arrived in Yemen in February and it expects the numbers to be similar for March.
The organization’s medical teams that operate around Yemen’s southern coasts to treat African migrants have so far not reported any cases of COVID-19.
“Most of them are suffering from exhaustion, hunger and problems in their joints due to walking,” an IOM doctor in Yemen told Arab News.
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Houthis forcing migrants to storm Saudi borders, says Al-Maliki
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Houthis forcing migrants to storm Saudi borders, says Al-Maliki
- The Saudi-led coalition has trained hundreds of Yemeni coastguards and provided them with fast boats to patrol the coastal area between Hadramout and Mahra
Former Iraq PM Maliki rejects US interference after threat
- His comments come after Trump threatened to end support to the country if Al-Maliki returns as PM
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s main candidate for the premiership, Nouri Al-Maliki, on Wednesday denounced Washington’s “blatant interference,” after President Donald Trump threatened to end all support to the country if Al-Maliki took the post.
The US has held significant sway over Iraqi politics since leading the 2003 invasion that ousted long-time ruler Saddam Hussein.
“We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” said Maliki, the only former Iraqi prime minister to have served two terms since the invasion.
“We consider it a violation” of Iraq’s “democratic system,” in place since 2003, he added on X.
Maliki fell out with Washington during his premiership (2006-2014) over growing ties with Iran and accusations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.
But the 75-year-old shrewd politician remained a central figure in Iraq’s politics and a powerbroker whose approval is considered indispensable to any governing coalition.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Iraq would make a “very bad choice” if Al-Maliki were selected for the top post.
He warned that because of Maliki’s “insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq.”
Maliki was endorsed as Iraq’s next prime minister by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite groups with varying links to Iran that has emerged in recent years as the main ruling coalition.
‘Until the end’
Since the invasion, Iraq has long been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, with successive governments negotiating a delicate balance between the two foes.
But Iraq’s new prime minister is set to return to power at a time of seismic changes in the Middle East, as Tehran’s regional influence wanes and as Washington threatens possible military intervention in Iran.
In his post on Wednesday, Al-Maliki said the US involvement “infringes upon the Coordination Framework’s decision to nominate” its candidate.
He added that, in line with that decision, he “will continue to work until the end, in a way that achieves the higher interests of the Iraqi people.”
Several Iraqi political sources told AFP that the coalition is set to meet soon to discuss Trump’s ultimatum.
“Efforts are underway to hold a meeting amid a complicated situation,” a source close to the Framework said.
He added that there were internal divisions within the coalition over supporting Maliki, but that a majority vote ultimately settled the issue.
Maliki’s backers are now pushing to maintain his candidacy and “not back down,” he added.
US representatives in Iraq have been lobbying against Maliki, according to Iraqi sources and diplomats in Baghdad.
Trump’s statement came days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced similar concerns in a telephone call with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
The US had also sent a letter to Iraqi politicians saying that Washington views Al-Maliki negatively, political sources told AFP.
Iraq’s new premier will be expected to address Washington’s longstanding demand that Baghdad disarm Tehran-backed factions, many of which are designated terrorist groups by the United States.
Last month, Iraqi officials and diplomats told AFP that Washington demanded that the incoming government exclude Iran-backed armed groups.
Before Trump’s call, an Iraqi political source said that the Coordination Framework was set on moving forward with the nomination, believing that Al-Maliki could eventually allay Washington’s concerns.
Maliki “thinks differently today,” an Iraqi politician told AFP.
After decades of conflicts and chaos, Iraq has recently regained a sense of stability.
But it is struggling with weak economic growth and cannot risk punitive measures by the US, which has already sanctioned several Iraqi entities, accusing them of helping Tehran evade sanctions.
The US has held significant sway over Iraqi politics since leading the 2003 invasion that ousted long-time ruler Saddam Hussein.
“We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” said Maliki, the only former Iraqi prime minister to have served two terms since the invasion.
“We consider it a violation” of Iraq’s “democratic system,” in place since 2003, he added on X.
Maliki fell out with Washington during his premiership (2006-2014) over growing ties with Iran and accusations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.
But the 75-year-old shrewd politician remained a central figure in Iraq’s politics and a powerbroker whose approval is considered indispensable to any governing coalition.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Iraq would make a “very bad choice” if Al-Maliki were selected for the top post.
He warned that because of Maliki’s “insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq.”
Maliki was endorsed as Iraq’s next prime minister by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite groups with varying links to Iran that has emerged in recent years as the main ruling coalition.
‘Until the end’
Since the invasion, Iraq has long been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, with successive governments negotiating a delicate balance between the two foes.
But Iraq’s new prime minister is set to return to power at a time of seismic changes in the Middle East, as Tehran’s regional influence wanes and as Washington threatens possible military intervention in Iran.
In his post on Wednesday, Al-Maliki said the US involvement “infringes upon the Coordination Framework’s decision to nominate” its candidate.
He added that, in line with that decision, he “will continue to work until the end, in a way that achieves the higher interests of the Iraqi people.”
Several Iraqi political sources told AFP that the coalition is set to meet soon to discuss Trump’s ultimatum.
“Efforts are underway to hold a meeting amid a complicated situation,” a source close to the Framework said.
He added that there were internal divisions within the coalition over supporting Maliki, but that a majority vote ultimately settled the issue.
Maliki’s backers are now pushing to maintain his candidacy and “not back down,” he added.
US representatives in Iraq have been lobbying against Maliki, according to Iraqi sources and diplomats in Baghdad.
Trump’s statement came days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced similar concerns in a telephone call with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
The US had also sent a letter to Iraqi politicians saying that Washington views Al-Maliki negatively, political sources told AFP.
Iraq’s new premier will be expected to address Washington’s longstanding demand that Baghdad disarm Tehran-backed factions, many of which are designated terrorist groups by the United States.
Last month, Iraqi officials and diplomats told AFP that Washington demanded that the incoming government exclude Iran-backed armed groups.
Before Trump’s call, an Iraqi political source said that the Coordination Framework was set on moving forward with the nomination, believing that Al-Maliki could eventually allay Washington’s concerns.
Maliki “thinks differently today,” an Iraqi politician told AFP.
After decades of conflicts and chaos, Iraq has recently regained a sense of stability.
But it is struggling with weak economic growth and cannot risk punitive measures by the US, which has already sanctioned several Iraqi entities, accusing them of helping Tehran evade sanctions.
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