Socotra Archipelago: Why Emiratis Focused on the Garden of Eden of the Arab World

A number of days after COP28 in Dubai, one little-known archipelago has clearly come to life: Socotra. Consisting of 4 small Yemeni islands, Socotra has been in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) crosshairs since Yemen’s civil war broke out in September 2014. The UAE is an element of a coalition led by Saudi Arabia – with logistical support from the United States – against the rebels The Houthis have been allied with Iran since March 2015, but to date Socotra has been spared the civil war and the Houthis.

One of the most biologically diverse islands in the world

Known for its unique and abundant wildlife, Socotra was believed to be the original location of the Garden of Eden. The archipelago is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site to guard an island considered one of the most biologically diverse and distinctive in the world. Naturalists and ecologists estimate that 37% of the 825 plant species, 90% of reptiles and 95% of land snails are found nowhere else in the world.

The archipelago is increasingly attracting attention from the United Arab Emirates on account of its strategic location between the navigable waterways of the Persian Gulf, Africa and Asia. It is a possible shipping, logistics and military defense or projection fulcrum that might enable the UAE to pursue geostrategic goals while countering those of competitors and adversaries. The Emirates are also believed to be eyeing Socotra for its potential for tourism development, which might pose some threat to the archipelago’s biodiversity. But how realistic are these scenarios?

Old ties with the Emirates

It could be easy to explain the UAE’s influence on Socotra as an “intrusion.” However, this narrative ignores the historical ties between the Sokotrans and the Emirates, which were established long before the war. In the late Nineteen Fifties, before oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi, some Emiratis – especially traders from Ajman – emigrated to the island, while many Socotrans settled in the Sixties to work in the sheikhdom.

Currently, roughly 30% of Socotra’s population lives in the United Arab Emirates, primarily north of Dubai Emirate of Ajman. The United Arab Emirates has strengthened its economic, military and cultural influence in the archipelago, while the island of Socotra has undergone profound social changes following the granting of special protected status by the United Nations in 2000. Known as Soqotra development plana brand new binding environmental protection regime has effectively transformed the island into national park and placed it under international supervision. The Arab Spring also spread to the capital in 2011, inspiring residents to revolt President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Salih. Emiratis took advantage of this era of instability to create patronage networks.

The presence of the Emirates due to this fact accelerated the politicization and militarization of Socotra. Nevertheless, Socotra continues to be studied mainly from the perspective of ecologists and anthropologists, quite than political scientists and security experts. This makes it difficult to acquire reliable details about the political and military structure of the archipelago.

From isolation to political awareness

Throughout Socotra’s history, the issue of outside rule has all the time been extremely essential, probably on account of its geographical remoteness. The 2011 rebellion in Yemen sparked a debate about autonomy amongst islanders, and the subsequent increase in the Emirati presence in the archipelago increased fear of foreign interference.

In 2011–2012, protests in Hadiboh, the island’s largest city – told in a rare way by an anthropologist Natalia Puisz – repeated the slogans heard in the Yemeni cities of Sanaa and Taiz calling for political reforms and an end to the regime and its corruption. Since then, Internet access has been growing, and the locals divided into two camps: those demanding the Socotran governorship and people demanding autonomy from the central government. Political consciousness regularly took root. Competing councils opposed official authorities, perceived as corrupt and ineffective: these councils reflected the divisions of party politics on the continent. In 2013, Socotra became an independent governorate, having previously been under the administrative authority of Hadhramawt (eastern Yemen) and, before that, the southern port city of Aden.

Then a series of cyclones hit the archipelago, Chapala AND He died in 2015 i Mekunu in 2018, wreaking havoc on the island’s infrastructure and nature. In response, the Emiratis rebuilt mosques, created a water supply network, and founded the city of Shaykh Zayed with education and health facilities. They also rebuilt Hadiboh Port and the airport.

The pattern was not latest: in Yemen’s southern regions, the UAE had already gained significant influence in the port cities of Mokha, Aden and Mukalla, operating and developing infrastructure. In this manner, the Emiratis took advantage of patronage connections with groups and militias from the South, mainly related to supporter of secessionism and supported by the United Arab Emirates Southern Transitional Council (STC). The reconstruction of Socotra has been intertwined with industrial and tourism initiatives, including now combined weekly flights From Abu Dhabi to Hadiboh.

Shoes from the Emirates and Arabia

Deployment of Emirati soldiers and armored vehicles in Socotra in 2018 was a breakthrough moment for the island. The implementation took place without coordination with local authorities, still loyal to the internationally recognized government. According to the Emirati authoritiesThe United Arab Emirates sent soldiers to “support (Socotra residents’) stability, health care, education and living conditions.” Many locals, especially from anti-UAE Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers, protested, calling for his or her removal. In an try and resolve the situation, Socotra authorities organized Saudi mediation. The compromise negotiated through Riyadh led to the Emirati withdrawal of most of its forces and equipment from the island.

However, in consultation with the local governor, Saudi Arabia sent troops to Socotra around “training and support mission” for Yemeni forces and to serve port and airport. Moreover, the Saudi agreement was comprehensive “development and relief” for Socotra, revealing that the kingdom has its own development projects. Due to local divisions and foreign interference, continental clashes between Yemeni pro-government forces (backed by Saudi Arabia) and the STC (backed by the United Arab Emirates and secessionist interests) have reached the island.

Since 2019, the STC has increased its presence on the island, bringing in mostly fighters from Aden and the southwest. However, in response to other sources, the locals are trained by the UAE in Aden after which deployed to Socotra as part of the Emirati-backed and pro-STC “Security Belt Forces”.

United Arab Emirates flags fly at checkpoints

In 2020, after the governor of Socotra opposed the formation of local elite pro-Emirate forces, the STC ultimately took control of the island, prompting Saudi forces to back out quickly. The STC’s coup allowed the Emiratis to not directly control the island, which is reportedly paid for by Socotran government officials paid by the United Arab Emiratesand an area Coast Guard detachment swearing allegiance. A 2021 AFP report also described how “STC banners are dwarfed by much larger UAE flags flying at police checkpoints,” while newly erected communications masts connect phones on to UAE networks as an alternative of Yemen.

There are many indications that the island has undergone extensive militarization. In April 2019, reports emerged that the United Arab Emirates was constructing military base on the islandnear rebuilt Hawlaf port.

In 2020 Ahmed Nagi, one of the few political scientists who was in a position to visit Socotra recently, wrote that “the island has become a regional football stadium.” For analysts working abroad, information comes mainly from the UAE media compliant with the governmentor from related media regional rivals of the United Arab Emirates. As long as reliable details about political and military issues in Socotra is restricted, it’ll proceed to be difficult for analysts to evaluate the impact of “development” and “foreign intervention” on the region’s Garden of Eden.