Agreement Reached to End Tribal Violence in Yemen's Lahj

Community and tribal leaders have signed an agreement in the Al-Subaiha districts of Lahj province in South Yemen to end tribal violence, revenge and instability. 

Security and military officials in the Yemeni government have pushed for this agreement to consolidate security and stability and end tribal fighting.

Ahmed Turki, the governor of Lahj province, said the signing of the agreement is a "sacred tribal consensus to end tribal revenge, which has been a frightening nightmare that has torn apart the social fabric of the people for decades."

The signing of the agreement was attended by Advisor to the Presidential Leadership Council for Defense and Security Affairs, Lieutenant General Mahmoud Al-Subaihi.

Al-Subaihi indicated that Al-Subaiha tribes have gained importance due to their geographical location overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the country's western coast.

"Therefore, the enemies are keen to create chaos and sponsor networks for smuggling people, drugs, alcohol, and military equipment. All of this aims to keep the conflict ongoing inside Yemen to facilitate the Iranian hegemony through the Houthis," Al-Subaiha said.

Brigadier General Hamdi Shukri, Commander of the Second Giants Brigade, accused the Houthis of employing cells to destabilize security and stability in the Sabiha districts.

According to Shukri, the cells were not only active in the Sabiha districts but also expanded into the Yemeni government-run areas with the aim of "creating chaos and disturbing public peace".

Community leaders in Lahj affirm that the tribal revenge has been an obstacle to sustainable development in the province, indicating that the war and infighting have deprived the Subaiha districts of many vital projects and prevented them from having the needed infrastructure.

Lieutenant General Mohsen Al-Daari, the Minister of Defense in the Yemeni government, said Sunday the signing of the agreement to end tribal revenge in Subaiha districts will open a new page where peace, cooperation and harmony prevail.

Tribal clashes in Yemen have been recurring, leaving deaths and injuries amidst the continued fragility of the state and the proliferation of militant groups in the country.

Early this month, a tribal clash in the Al-Had district of Lahj province left a number of deaths and injuries, including civilians. The clash broke out between armed groups from the Al-Johar and Al-Farid tribes in Wadi Dan in Al-Had District due to an old revenge issue.

Since 1994, 170 people have been killed and 260 injured in tribal clashes in the Al-Had district of Lahj in South Yemen, according to reports.