Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate Tawakkol Karman has characterized the cessation of the United Arab Emirates’ formal involvement in Yemen as a pivotal moment in the country’s political trajectory, affirming that any residual illicit operations — including smuggling activities or organized criminal networks — will face decisive resistance from national institutions operating under the authority of law.

In remarks published via her official Facebook account, Karman stressed that the paramount issue for Yemen today is the complete absence of any legitimate Emirati presence on Yemeni soil. She noted that this shift creates a new reality in which sovereignty can no longer be compromised through external interference.

Karman warned that any attempts to preserve influence through covert channels, intermediaries, or transnational criminal structures will be firmly countered by the Yemeni state and the broader national movement, emphasizing that the protection of independence and the enforcement of the rule of law are non-negotiable priorities.

She further affirmed that the Yemeni people possess both the will and the capacity to defend their homeland and preserve their institutions, urging all political and social forces to rally around the national project of state-building and to confront any initiatives aimed at weakening Yemen’s sovereignty or fragmenting its authority.