News - Yemen: Socotra Island witnessed angry popular protests rejecting the presence of the Emirati occupation and the exploitation of the archipelago's resources and wealth for many years, amid shameful silence from the mercenary government.

The demonstrators pointed to the Emirati occupation's plan to invest in ports, airports in strategic areas of the Arabian, Red Seas, reflecting its clear interest in controlling maritime corridors and expanding its military presence in the region.

Since February 20th, workers at Socotra International Airport have begun an open sit-in to protest the decision to hand over the airport’s management to the Emirati company "Eastern Triangle." The employees reject this move, which would grant the Emirati company full control over the airport, including replacing current workers with foreign employees. They consider this a violation of Yemeni civil aviation law and an infringement on the airport’s sovereignty and workers’ rights.

This comes amid complete silence from the mercenary government, while popular rejection of Abu Dhabi continues to grow and prices keep rising due to the monopoly of Emirati companies.

Last week, Yemen’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works has condemned the United Arab Emirates’s attempts to seize control of Socotra Airport through the Emirati company "Eastern Triangle." It warned against the UAE's continued implementation of a Zionist agenda that threatens Yemen’s security and sovereignty.

Since mid-June 2020, the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) has maintained control over Socotra. Over the years, STC authorities have facilitated Emirati expansion on the island by selling large tracts of land to Emirati companies and granting monopolistic rights over key services such as fuel and electricity.

The airport takeover reflects a wider pattern of UAE efforts to strengthen its geopolitical influence in Yemen, using Socotra as a strategic outpost for military and economic dominance in the region.