Founding Conference in Socotra Approves Vision Document and Code of Honor

On Wednesday, in Hadibu, the capital of the Socotra Archipelago governorate, the proceedings of the General Founding Conference of the Consensus-based Coordination Council concluded, with the participation of representatives from the local authority, political and social components, as well as sheikhs, dignitaries, academics, youth, women, civil society organizations, and professional and productive sectors from the regions and islands of the archipelago.

The final statement, read by Dr. Fahd Kafayn, announced that the participants had agreed on a number of political, administrative, and economic decisions and references.

The conference approved the basic system, organizational regulations, and the "Vision of the People of Socotra" document, alongside the "Socotri Code of Honor," which included principles related to civil peace, renouncing violence and corruption, and preserving the environment, language, heritage, and Socotri identity.

The participants also endorsed the Governor of Socotra and head of the local council, Raafat Ali Ibrahim Al-Thaqli, as chairman of the Consensus-based Coordination Council, and authorized him to complete the formation of the presidency, the general secretariat, and specialized committees based on the principle of consensus and balanced representation.

The statement said that the council will be a consultative and coordinating framework and does not constitute a parallel authority or an alternative to existing components, noting that it will work to support state institutions while rejecting chaos, duplication of institutions, and weapons outside official frameworks.

On the economic front, the conference approved a plan focused on developing fisheries and value chains, establishing a local airline, and developing the airport and ports, in addition to implementing projects in ecotourism, infrastructure, and services.

The statement included political demands, among them empowering the people of Socotra administratively, politically, and legislatively to establish an independent region with full self-governance powers, and ensuring independent and fair representation for the people of the archipelago in political dialogues, arrangements, and central and diplomatic appointments.

The statement also called for the protection of the archipelago's lands and its marine and natural resources, preserving its status as a nature reserve and World Heritage site, and subjecting development and urban projects to environmental assessment.

Participants welcomed dialogue tracks, including the Southern Dialogue sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while praising Saudi humanitarian and development support and demanding improved electricity, water, health, education, transport, and port services.

The conference decided to establish branches and offices for the council in Hadibu, Qalansiyah, Abd al Kuri, and the affiliated islands, and to activate communication with the people of Socotra abroad, while emphasizing the involvement of youth, women, and academics in the decision-making process.

In its conclusion, the statement called on the people of the Socotra archipelago at home and abroad to unify their ranks, prioritize the public interest, and work through the council as a consensus-based platform aimed, according to the statement, at preserving the land, identity, and environment, and supporting development in the archipelago.