The Saudi-backed governor of Ma’rib, Sultan al-Arada, has left the province on Tuesday for nearby Hadhramaut in a surprise move.
This was reported by Yemen News Portal , based on local sources.
The move came after a call he received from Hadi’s Prime Minister, Moeen Abdul Malik.
Tribal sources said that Al-Arada arrived at the al-Wadeiah border with Saudi Arabia. It is not yet known whether he will stay or leave for Riyadh.
Al-Arada’s flight comes at a difficult time for the Islah authorities in Ma’rib, with differences widening and infighting increasing amid a steady advance by Yemeni forces loyal to the National Salvation Government on the outskirts of the city.
For its part, diplomatic sources revealed the possibility of appointing al-Arada in a new position in the upcoming reshuffle Hadi government, expecting that the new governor of Ma’rib will be affiliated with the United Arab Emirates rather than with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia had earlier put forward the name of governor al-Arada as a replacement for Hadi’s Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar.
