NDC teams met with Mahra Governor Ali Khoudam and local government officials on Tuesday. At the meeting, the discussion focused on local government needs and challenges when it comes to providing improved services and increased development. The teams were made of members from NDC Working Groups on Good Governance, State-Building and Development.

Khoudam said centralization, smuggling, insecurity and development were the main issues facing Mahra’s nine districts.

“Centralization represents one of the key roadblocks to utilizing projects to boost development,” said Khoudam, before adding that the matter of securing sea and land borders also bore significance. 

Local government officials made presentations on poor health and educational services as well as other problems, including the smuggling of weapons and cars.

The officials added that they had visions of the structure and governance system of Yemen’s future state based on the idea of one dedicated region for Mahra and Socotra.