New reports coming out of Yemen say that the Muslim Brotherhood branch in Yemen, the Al-Islah party, has started the arming Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in Shabwas region, particularly around the city of Ataq.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) had earlier held control of the area and had practically eradicated AQAP. However, the internationally recognized PLC government of Yemen launched an offensive against STF forces a month ago with the support of Saudi Arabia and pushed them out.
The Islah Party is part of the PLC coalition government and will now wield more power in certain areas of Yemen.
Worryingly, one of their first decisions seems to be to arm their ideological allies in Al-Qaeda.
The initial claims emerged on January 20th, with local security sources alleging that Islah provided AQAP with weapons, ammunition and explosives through smuggling networks.
These supplies are said to have contributed to a rise in bombings and assassinations in the area.
Such alleged cooperation marks a notable shift amid ongoing rivalries in southern Yemen, where Al-Islah had faced significant setbacks from the Southern Transitional Council and their allies in the Giants Brigades,
The Al-Islah party was founded in 1990 and has been Yemen’s second-largest political force historically, winning 46 seats in the 2003 elections.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was formed in 2009 through the merger of al-Qaeda branches in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
It aims to overthrow the Yemeni government and establish an Islamic emirate, with primary operations in Yemen and limited activity in Saudi Arabia.
AQAP has been especially active in southern governorates like Shabwa, where it seized territory such as Azzan and parts of Abyan in the early 2010s.
The group achieved territorial control peaks in 2011–2012 and 2015–2016, including holding the port city Mukalla.
Its current emir is Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, who assumed leadership two years ago.
Locals fear that they just might end up under Al-Qaeda rule against following their new partnership with the Muslim Brotherhood.
