Two senior Yemeni security officials said that the group also looted Mukalla’s central bank branch, gaining an estimated $100 million.
A Reuter’s investigation has revealed that the war of Yemen helped Al-Qaeda to gain financially since it is running a mini-state and pocketing 100 million USD in looted bank deposits and revenue from the largest port.
In Mukalla, a city of 500,000 people, where it has a major presence and runs the third largest port in Yemen. There is an estimation that the group earns up to US$2 million every day in taxes on goods and fuel coming into the port. The report also said that Al-Qaeda extort $1.4 million from the national oil company.
Two senior Yemeni security officials said that the group also looted Mukalla’s central bank branch, gaining an estimated $100 million.
According to Reuter’s investigation, Al-Qaeda abolished taxes for local residents in Mukalla, and group merged with southern Yemenis who have felt marginalized by their northern counterparts for years.
“I prefer that Al-Qaeda stay here, not for Al Mukalla to be liberated,” said one 47-year-old resident. “The situation is stable, more than any ‘free’ part of Yemen. The alternative to Al-Qaeda is much worse.”
However, Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula has managed to expand its territory by using many of the tactics used by ISIS. In Yemen, AQAP claims 1,000 fighters in Mukalla alone, and controls 600km (373 miles) of coastline. AQAP is also responsible for 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack, which left 12 people dead in Paris.