Issue 49 (December 8th thru 14th, 1997), Vol.VII
Mohammed Akkoush:
"Some tribes in
Al-Mahara are quite democratic in their structures."
Mr. Mohammed
Salem Akkoush is currently a member of the Permanent Committee of the ruling
People's General Congress and a member of the Consultative Council. Originally
from Al-Mahara, Akkoush, 55, occupied several ministerial and diplomatic
posts in southern Yemen. He became the governor of Dhamar, the minister
of agriculture, fisheries, and an ambassador to several African countries.
He left Aden following the internal bloody conflict of January, 1986.
Dr. Salah Haddash, Yemen Times Managing Editor, talked to Mr. Akkoush
mainly about his home governorate of Al-Mahra, and filed the following
interview.
Q: How is the current situation in Al-Mahara?
- A: As you may know, Al-Mahra is
a remote border area. It borders Oman, and Saudi Arabia with a long desert
line. It also has the largest coastal strip in Yemen, overlooking the Indian
Ocean. In spite of this strategic position, Al-Mahara was neglected.
- Recently, however, some new projects were initiated and abandoned ones
were restarted after the war of unity in 1994. So we can say now that Al-Mahara
is better off than it was before. Public services, however, are still not
functioning in a good way.
- There is still a lot to be done regarding the governorate's infrastructure
such as water, health, road, and education projects, especially in remote
areas. There are very few asphalted roads connecting the center of the
governorate with its smaller towns and villages.
Q: Are there any regular flights to and from AL-Mahara?- A: There used to be 7 flights a
week - 4 to Sanaa and 3 to Aden. Now there are only 2 flights a week, and
even these are sometimes irregular. People now have to go on long waiting
lists to get a flight to Sanaa or Aden.
Q: Is there any smuggling taking place along the
border with Oman or Saudi Arabia?- A: After the demarcation of the
Yemen-Omani border line, smuggling has diminished considerably. The rough
mountainous or desert terrain discourages potential smugglers. The smuggling
operations that do take place are not significant. If there is an easing
of customs restrictions and lowering of taxes it would become less worthwhile
for people to smuggle goods.
Q: What sort of goods are usually smuggled?- A: Smugglers usually bring cereals
such as rice and luxury items such as clothes.
Q: What is the situation of women in Al-Mahara?- A: Women in Al-Mahara have the
best deal in all of the country. They are idolized by men. It is part of
our heritage. Some women do not cover their faces, and can meet guests
even if their menfolk are not present.
Q: Are young women in AL-Mahara able to get good
education?- A: The level of education in Al-Mahara
is not bad. Most of our girls are now educated to the level of secondary
school. Due to the increasing demand, the government is opening more secondary
schools. There are now two co-educational secondary schools, one in Ghaidha
and the other in Sayhoot. Many women are now starting to get employment.
Q: Are tribal allegiances still strong in Al-Mahara?- A: Like in almost all other regions
in Yemen, tribalism is still quite strong in Al-Mahara. Many people still
follow their tribal customs and traditions. Tribal allegiances became rather
weak during the rule of the totalitarian regime in the south, but they
grew strong again. There around 150 tribes in Al-Mahara, not to forget
the tribes living on the Island of Socotra which was part of the governorate
of Al-Mahara.
- Tribalism, however, is not all bad. There are many redeeming characteristics
such as generosity, courage, etc. Some tribes are quite democratic such
as the Ziyad tribe, for instance. Members of this tribe elect a new sheikh
every four years. This elected sheikh then chooses one figure from each
of the tribe's twenty clans, creating a kind of an advisory council. However,
sheikhdom in other tribes is hereditary.
Q: How about blood feuds? Are they prevalent in
Al-Mahara?- A: Blood feuds still exist. When
I became the governor of Dhamar immediately after independence in 1967,
we solved many blood feuds through peaceful means. Tribes in general resort
to unwritten rules and traditions to solve their feuds such as giving blood
money or employing neutral mediators. When a settlement or reconciliation
is reached, it is written down and is handed down the generations for the
sake of an enduring peace. Another rule to limit blood feuds is that if
a tribe violates the peace by killing a member of another tribe, then the
latter is allowed to kill two members of the former. The renegade tribe
is completely shunned by all other tribes.
Q: Is there any kind of environmental pollution
in Al-Mahara?- A: This is a very important issue.
I met several senior officials about two months ago to discuss sewage pollution
on the beaches whose contamination can be quite harmful to the fish wealth
in the area. People and fishermen in particular are becoming more aware
of the importance of preserving their environment. Public campaigns are
now being conducted to collect rubbish and other pollutants from the beaches.
- Some types of fish which used to be discarded by fishermen and left
to rot on the beach are now dried and used as cattle fodder.
- But the most pressing problem which can prove to be very difficult
to solve is the oil slicks left behind by ships and oil tankers in particular
which cross the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.
Q: Remaining within the sphere of nature, what
is the situation concerning wild life in Al-Mahara?- A: Well, some gazelles, ibexes,
tigers, leopards and birds of prey are still endemic, especially in the
eastern region of Al-Mahara. During the rainy season from July to September,
the mountains in the region connecting Al-Mahara with Dhafar in Oman become
covered with a green carpet of grass. This is quite conducive for wild
animals to come and graze in the area.
- There is actually a nature reserve in Oman near its border with Yemen
where hunting is strictly prohibited, including the hunting of widely spread
animals such as rabbits. In Yemen, however, it is open season all year
round.
- Large numbers of animals have been smuggled from Yemen to some neighboring
or even far away countries where they have become exhibits in natural history
museums. Hunters from Oman and the UAE often cross the Yemeni borders feeling
quite immune from prosecution. Many of them are indistinguishable from
the rest of the people in the area.
- The "luban" or myrrh tree is endemic in the region between
the mountains and the sea in Al-Mahara. The produce of this tree can become
good source of income for the region, provided that more modern methods
are adopted in extracting and producing myrrh.
- I call upon the Yemeni authorities to enforce a law protecting wildlife
in Yemen before it is too late.
Q: What are the most urgent needs of Al-Mahara
Governorate?- A: The region's priorities include
first of all the construction of decent roads. For example, during the
fishing season, the price of a kilo of good-quality fish in the coastal
region would be around YR60 to YR90; while, in the hinterland, due to the
rough terrain and lack of paved roads, the price of a kilo of fish could
reach YR350 to YR600!
- Many people buy smuggled food stuffs such rice and sugar due to them
being cheaper than if they were brought from a place like Hodeida, for
instance. The availability of roads and accessibility again play a major
part in this matter.
Q: How do you view the proposed administrative
divisions?- A: Al-Mahara is to remain largely
as it is. Some directorates may become part of other governorates. The
directorate of Ramah, for example, is considered an integral part of Al-Mahara,
now its part of Hadhramaut and has been since the rule of the totalitarian
regime in the south. It has a population of almost 25,000 people. I demanded
many times that it should become part of AL-Mahara again. This will make
life easier for its people. Instead of having to go to Mukalla, 9 hours'
drive away, to conclude their dealings with officialdom, they can go to
Al-Mahara's center of Al-Ghaidha, just 2 hours way by car. The Island of
Socotra is now part of the Aden Governorate, but people living on that
island belong to tribes in Al-Mahara.
Q: How well is Al-Mahara represented in parliament?- A: There are actually two constituencies
in Al-Mahara. Many parts of the region were cut away and incorporated within
Hadhramaut during the rule of the Socialist Party. People participated
fully in the last general elections. The problem is that there should be
more constituencies and more representation. The Island of Socotra and
other regions should become part of Al-Mahara Governorate.
Q: How serious is the problem of carrying firearms
in Al-Mahara?- A: Carrying firearms has become
very widespread lately. Some people carry arms not for self defense, but
as decorations, even though they may be submachine guns and pistols. Many
sorry accidents take place, especially during marriage ceremonies when
people fire many rounds in the air as a form of celebration. They often
injure other people due to sheer negligence.
- People in Al-Mahara are ready and willing to give up their weapons,
provided that other people in other parts of the country do the same.
Q: I understand that there is a unique Mahari
dialect or even language. Could you tell us more about that?- A: Some people in Al-Mahara, Socotra,
and Salala in Oman speak the ancient Himyarite language. It is the language
of Sabaa and Maeen. It is called "Jibalia" or mountain language,
which is is different from Arabic. The language of the Socotra people,
for instance, is a mixture of old Himyarite, Indian, and African languages.
People living in remote and inaccessible mountainous regions can only speak
the Mahari language.
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