Aden Land Protection Unit Commander Resigns Amidst Authority Disputes

The commander of the intervention unit responsible for protecting land plans and resolving land disputes in Aden, Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Mutlaq Al-Halami, has resigned from his position, citing escalating complexities and overlapping authorities that hindered the unit's operational capacity.

Al-Halami's resignation letter, addressed to the Minister of State and Governor of Aden, Abdul Rahman Sheikh, highlighted a significant escalation in land encroachment and illegal occupation of state and private properties in Aden since 2015. The letter pointed to the proliferation of influential entities and the absence of a unified reference point for managing land-related issues as key contributing factors.

The establishment of the Land Protection Unit in 2021 was intended to address these imbalances by creating a specialized security apparatus tasked with executing judicial and executive directives to safeguard public and private rights. Despite resource limitations, the unit achieved notable successes, including curbing random land seizures, enforcing demolition orders, mediating land-related armed conflicts, and establishing formal procedures for handling land matters.

However, Al-Halami attributed his resignation to the persistent issues of overlapping jurisdictions and a lack of coordination among relevant authorities. He also cited field pressures and smear campaigns directed at the unit's operations, despite its adherence to legal procedures and directives from competent bodies.

In his concluding remarks, Al-Halami urged a review of the mechanisms for managing land affairs and a clear delineation of responsibilities. Such reforms, he argued, would strengthen the rule of law and contribute to stability in the temporary capital, Aden.