In line with Basha Report’s latest analysis, Amr bin Habreesh is expected to continue leading resistance against the Southern Transitional Council in Hadramawt. Today, in a surprise move that caught many observers off guard, myself included, he appeared publicly at a major tribal event in Ghayl Bin Yameen, the home area of his Al Homoum tribe.

The appearance took place during a large gathering organized by the Hadramawt Tribal Confederacy (HTC) to mark Hadramawt National Day, the 12 anniversary of the Confederacy’s founding, the anniversary of the killing of its founder Sheikh Saad bin Habreesh, and the launch of the Hadrami popular uprising. The event drew broad tribal and social participation, including senior tribal figures, community leaders, youth representatives, and members of the Hadrami popular resistance.

In his address, Bin Habreesh framed the moment as part of a continuous political and popular struggle that began more than a decade ago. He described Hadramawt National Day as a decisive turning point that launched a distinct Hadrami political project based on local will, self organization, and sacrifice. Bin Habreesh argued that the gains achieved since 2013 came through sustained political and armed struggle and were paid for with significant sacrifices, stressing that Hadramis built their project independently to defend dignity, rights, and autonomy.

He emphasized that the current phase represents a natural extension of that struggle and that demands for self rule remain at its core. Bin Habreesh claimed that the Confederacy emerged victorious from its confrontation with the former regime in 2013 and has continued to advance despite limited resources. He also pointed to what he described as growing regional and international recognition of the Hadramawt issue, portraying this as an important political achievement.

In another twist during the event, a group of attendees inside the banquet hall stood up and moved toward the stage area and podium carrying the Southern Yemen flag, the flag promoted by the Southern Transitional Council as the symbol of its envisioned future independent southern state. As captured in a circulating clip, more people rallied toward the podium and began shouting the chant “With our soul, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, O South,” a well known slogan associated with southern separatist mobilization. The chanting briefly overwhelmed the hall and underscored the competing political narratives present at the gathering.

The incident has since fueled debate over the depth and origin of STC support in Hadramawt. Some argue that while Bin Habreesh clearly commands significant local backing, the STC also has genuine supporters in Hadramawt. Others counter that those who raised the flag and led the chants were not from Hadramawt and were instead brought in from outside the governorate. That argument, however, remains unresolved and continues to resurface.

What is clear is that Hadramawt’s political landscape is deeply divided. There are Hadramis who support the STC and its vision of an independent southern state, others who back an independent Hadramawt project led by Saudi-backed tribal and local actors, and still others who favor some form of continued unity. These competing visions coexist uneasily, and scenes like those witnessed at today’s event highlight how contested identity, authority, and future political direction remain in Hadramawt.

Note: A large-scale polling project is needed to clearly assess the visions of Hadramis, whether they favor remaining within a united Yemen, support an independent Hadramawt, or back the South Arabia project. Such a data driven effort would help move the debate beyond anecdote and competing claims, and it is a task that Basha Report’s vetted and professional team inside Hadramawt is well positioned to carry out if adequate funding is secured.