Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANAA2022
2005-07-25 13:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

MAREB ROAD TEMPORARILY CLEARED FOR FUEL DELIVERIES

pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002022 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR ECON ENRG EINV ASEC YM ECON COM ENERGY DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: MAREB ROAD TEMPORARILY CLEARED FOR FUEL DELIVERIES

REF: A. SANAA 1986

B. SANAA 1976

Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002022

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR ECON ENRG EINV ASEC YM ECON COM ENERGY DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: MAREB ROAD TEMPORARILY CLEARED FOR FUEL DELIVERIES

REF: A. SANAA 1986

B. SANAA 1976

Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary. July 24 at 19:30, armed members of the
Al-Jaden tribe clashed with ROYG security forces
approximately 30 miles west of Mareb City. According to Hunt
Oil Security Chief Ralph Gonzales there were several
casualties. The show of military force convinced the
tribesmen to lift their blockade temporarily and to permit
transport of diesel and kerosene from the Mareb refinery, the
main source of these fuels for the capital. End Summary.


2. (C) The following morning of July 25, the Ministry of Oil
declared that the Mareb-Sanaa road was officially open and
that fuel was available in markets throughout Sanaa. The
government-controlled newspaper al-Thawra issued a similar
statement from Mareb Governor Abdullah al-Nassi. Local
journalists for al-Arabiya and AP confirm that hostilities
have abated, but warn that the situation remains tenuous.
Tribal leaders are awaiting talks with President Saleh, and
are prepared to close the road again if they are unsatisfied
with the outcome.


3. (C) On July 20, tribal forces surrounded the Jannah Hunt
oil refinery (ref A). The siege ended on July 23, following
negotiations with the Yemeni military, but the tribes
maintained a blockade of the Sanaa-Mareb road, shooting at
delivery trucks attempting to pass. By July 24, the effects
of the blockade could be felt in Sanaa. A shortage of
cooking gas caused long lines outside vendors' shops, and
customers waited up to ten hours to buy kerosene tanks.
Despite news that the deliveries had resumed, long lines were
visible the following day throughout the city.


4. (C) Comment: Mareb tribal leaders are capitalizing on the
rioting and inflationary panic to advance long-standing
complaints regarding oil profits (ref B). The local tribes
believe the central government extracts natural resources
from their land without sufficient compensation to the local
population. This tension manifests itself periodically in
isolated attacks and tribal clashes with security forces.
The lifting of fuel subsidies added to tribal frustrations,
as they believe they now have to pay more for their own oil.
The sheikhs will use their upcoming meeting with Saleh to
obtain financial concessions from the ROYG. End comment.
Khoury