US embassy cable - 05SANAA2022

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