VZCZCXRO9396
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDH #0258/01 2870745
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 140745Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL DHAHRAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0298
INFO RUEHZM/GCC C COLLECTIVE
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0004
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 0392

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAHRAN 000258 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP JOSHUA HARRIS AND JEREMY BERNDT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  10/14/2019 
TAGS: PGOV KIRF PHUM SA YM
SUBJECT: NAJRAN'S NEW GOVERNOR OFF TO GOOD START BUT CHALLENGED BY 
NORTHERN YEMEN CONFLICT 
 
REF: RIYADH 482 
 
DHAHRAN 00000258  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Joseph A. Kenny, Consul General, EXEC, DOS. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
SUMMARY 
 
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¶1. (C) The new governor of Najran province on the border with 
Yemen is viewed as being a serious, business-oriented leader 
looking to downplay the sectarian differences between the 
officially recognized Sunni interpretation of Islam and that of 
the province's majority Ismaili (specifically Sulaimani Bohra 
branch) residents.  However, the intensifying conflict in 
Northern Yemen has had some spillover effects into the region, 
including wounded Huthis being treated in Najrani hospitals, 
Yemeni citizens begging in the streets, and the sounds of 
firearms and explosions in the distance.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
NEW GOVERNOR OF NAJRAN 
 
---------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2. (C) On March 27 King Abdullah appointed his son Prince Mishal 
bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as the new governor of Najran 
province (see reftel for more info on the appointment).  The 
population of Najran according to a 2004 census is about 420,000 
with Saudi citizens making up approximately 350,000 of the 
total.  The vast majority of the residents belong to the 
Sulaimani Bohra branch of Ismaili Shiism.  The last governor was 
relieved of his duties in large part due to his inability to 
quell the discontent among the Ismailis in Najran.  With rising 
violence across the border in Yemen as well as increasing 
tensions between the Yemeni and Saudi governments, a secure and 
stable Najran is all the more critical to the Kingdom. 
 
 
 
INFLUENTIAL ISMAILI BUSINESSMAN 
 
IS CLOSE TO NAJRAN GOVERNOR 
 
--------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶3. (C/NF) In an October 7 meeting with the Consul General and 
PolOffs, Ali Borman al-Yami (protect), an influential Ismaili 
businessman originally from Najran, described his close 
relationship with the new governor and the prince's priorities 
for the province.  Al-Yami has direct access to the governor and 
is collaborating with him in the establishment of a Najran-based 
holding company.  (NOTE:  Al-Yami is a well-established contact 
of the Consulate living in the Eastern Province and a successful 
businessman in the region.  His credibility as a well-connected 
source was bolstered when he accurately predicted that Prince 
Mishal bin Abdullah would become the governor of Najran several 
months before the announcement.  END NOTE.) 
 
 
 
THE GOVERNOR FOCUSES ON BUSINESS COMMUNITY, 
 
DOWNPLAYS SECTARIAN DIFFERENCES 
 
------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶4. (C/NF) Al-Yami (protect) described Prince Mishal as an 
improvement over his predecessor, Prince Mishal bin Saud bin 
Abdulaziz, who ruled during a time of rapid deterioration in the 
relationship between the majority Ismaili residents and the 
provincial authorities.  Al-Yami said that the current governor 
has downplayed controversial sectarian rhetoric or policies 
going as far as praying alongside Ismailis at his mosque. 
Instead he has focused his efforts on areas of common interest, 
namely fostering business growth in the province.  According to 
al-Yami, this has made the governor popular in Najran and he is 
generally well-respected among the Ismailis. The Governor 
spearheaded festive celebrations on the occasion of Saudi 
National Day (September 23) that included musical performances. 
When challenged by the Mutawaeen, he suggested that they take a 
holiday away from Najran!  According to Al-Yami, the Governor is 
improving the quality of life for the Najran people, building 
 
DHAHRAN 00000258  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the infrastructure, including hospitals, a sports center, etc. 
 
 
 
¶5. (C/NF) According to al-Yami (protect) 90 percent of Najran's 
Saudi population follows the Sulaimani Bohra sub-sect of 
Ismailism.  (NOTE:  Historically, the Sulaimani Bohra branch of 
Ismailism broke off into their own sub-sect in the sixteenth 
century.  The Sulaimani reside largely in northern Yemen and 
bordering areas of Saudi Arabia, specifically Najran.  Al-Yami 
made a point of distinguishing his people as Sulaimani (not 
Ismaili), indicating a hint of disdain for being referred to as 
the latter.  END NOTE.)  Al-Yami noted that traditional Ismaili 
mosques are tolerated in Najran and that Ismailis generally are 
allowed to practice their faith as they see fit, especially 
since the current governor took power. 
 
 
 
BONDS BETWEEN YEMEN AND NAJRAN ARE DEEP 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6. (C/NF) Aside from the religious ties among the Sulaimanis 
living on both sides of the Najrani, Saudi-Yemeni border, 
al-Yami described deep tribal links between southern Saudi 
provinces of Najran and Jizan and northern Yemen.  For example, 
Saudi tribal leaders have the authority to grant temporary 
"visas" without MFA or MOI approval to Yemenis based on requests 
from Yemeni tribal leaders.  He also said that tribal leaders on 
both sides of the border regularly meet and discuss tribal 
matters.  Cross-border commercial ties are also strong with 
special coins used as currency among merchants within Najran as 
well as in Yemen. 
 
 
 
CONFLICT IN YEMEN FELT IN NAJRAN 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶7. (C/NF) When asked about the impact that the Yemeni conflict 
is having in Najran, al-Yami said that injured Huthis were being 
treated in Najrani hospitals.  He also said that people in 
Najran and Jizan have at times heard the sound of gunfire and 
explosives in the distance.  However, he was adamant that the 
violence would not spill over into any Saudi population centers, 
stating that there was a "red line" which could not be crossed, 
though he did not provide any further details on the subject. 
He concluded his comments on the subject by declaring that Yemen 
will eventually divide since the north is so much different from 
the south. He alluded to the fact that the south was much more 
orderly and business oriented. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
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¶8. (C/NF) Though al-Yami represents merely one perspective on 
recent events in Najran, he provides a particularly 
well-informed, objective snapshot of the province.  It appears 
that the governor has made substantial progress in making amends 
with the Ismaili population, which will allow him to focus on 
securing Najran from potentially destabilizing effects of the 
Yemeni conflict.  Nevertheless, the deeply rooted links between 
Yemen and Najran will ensure that this sparsely populated 
southern province remains a critical junction between KSA and 
Yemen. 
KENNY