On October 9, the Al-Jazeera.net website carried the following report: “The Saudi forces are proceeding with their attempts at establishing an oil pipe extending from their lands in the border area of Al-Kharkhir to the Arabian Sea through the Al-Mahrah governorate in East Yemen after having dispatched military forces [to the area] last year and after having tried to touch the pulse of the people of Al-Mahrah to impose a military control on the city.

“In December 2017, the Saudi forces started the drilling operations and the erection of some concrete bases in the border area of Touf Shahar. However, the Al-Mahrah tribes that support the legitimate Yemeni government moved to the area and ousted the [Saudi] tanks. They further announced that they will be remaining in the area, which is more than 350 kilometers away from the center of Al-Mahrah, until further notice.

“The member of the media committee organizing the Al-Mahrah sit-ins, Abdullah Bin Mahamed, said: “When the tribesmen and the people of the city reached the area and prevented the [Saudi] forces actions on the ground, the Saudis told them that they wish to establish an asphalt line from the Kingdom to Al-Mahrah.” Bin Mahamed added: “Now we know for sure that this was a mere cover for the establishment of an oil pipe, which is something that we will not allow.”

“After ousting the Saudi forces, the men of Al-Mahrah tribes did not hesitate to remove all concrete bases and signs. They further erected tents to protect their land and monitor any developments. They are still staying in that region. Furthermore, angry protests are still organized by the people of Al-Mahrah who reject the presence of the Saudi forces in the city of Al-Ghida, the center of the Al-Mahrah governorate and a number of areas in the governorate. Al-Riyadh’s attempts at purchasing the loyalty of some sheikhs and tribesmen from Al-Mahrah did not succeed…

“Last Friday, the people of Al-Ghida organized massive protests with the participation of prominent social figures from the governorate as well as tribesmen. The protestors carried the Yemeni flag and chanted slogans demanding the departure of the Saudi forces from the city. They stressed they will be escalating their movement until their demands are met. One of the main slogans that were raised was “We reject the violation of the national sovereignty.”

“Yemeni Oil Expert, Abdul Wahed al-Oubali, said that “the Saudi greed with respect to controlling Al-Mahrah (the second largest governorate in Yemen with a surface area of 93,000 square kilometers) is not new. It has rather started since the 1990s when the Kingdom tried to mount an oil pipe in 1994.” Al-Oubali added that Al-Riyadh’s attempt then did not work. Al-Mahrah governorate shares two border outlets with the Sultanate of Oman: Sarfit and Shahan. The governorate also hosts the longest coastal strip in Yemen that covers 560 kilometers and includes the Nashtoun Port. Al-Oubali added that, by establishing an oil pipe in Al-Mahrah, Saudi Arabia aims at securing an additional pipe to export its oil in the event that Iran was to tighten its pressure at the Arabian Gulf. Thus, it [Saudi Arabia] is trying to find an alternative line for itself.

“Yemeni Political Analyst, Abdul Ghani al-Mawari, said that Saudi Arabia is working on competing with the Emirati authority. Both parties are trying to obtain their own outlets into the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. This is clearly indicated by the now obvious proofs, including the fact that the two of them are exchanging roles in Yemen, and them working on creating new forces in the southern part of the country and the Socotra Island in order to pave the way to control the Yemeni lands.

“Observers believe that the main thing stirring the Saudi appetite to establish an oil pipe through Al-Mahrah consists of the cost that this project will be saving as it will shorten the wide distances that the Kingdom currently uses through the other outlets. Therefore, Al-Riyadh is working on finding an alternative, more efficient path to carry its oil from its eastern borders and the Empty Quarter zone to the Arabian Sea via Al-Mahrah.”