Abyan Governorate

Recent history

On 31 March 2011, Al Bawaba reported that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) had declared Abyan an "Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen" after seizing control of the region. The New York Times reported that those in control, while Islamic militants, are not in fact Al-Qaeda. This takeover was confirmed on May 28. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region, resulting in the Battle of Zinjibar.

In addition to Zinjibar, the towns of Jaʿār and Shuqrah were firmly under the control of the Islamists. In early May 2012 the Yemeni Army and Southern Resistance began a major offensive to wrest control of the province from militants. Government forces captured Zinjibar and Jaar on 12 June after a month of heavy fighting. Militants reportedly retreated towards the town of Shuqrah. In 2017, a military campaign led by Southern security forces and Southern resistance freed Abyan from the Islamist militants who escaped to their mountains in the Al Bayda and Marib Governorates.

Geography

Adjacent governorates

• Aden Governorate (southwest)
• Al Bayda Governorate (north)
• Lahij Governorate (west)
• Shabwa Governorate (north, east)

Districts

Abyan Governorate is divided into the following 11 districts. These districts are further divided into sub-districts, and then further subdivided into villages:

• Ahwar district
• Al Mahfad district
• Al Wade'a district
• Jayshan district
• Khanfir district
• Lawdar district
• Mudiyah district
• Rasad district
• Sarar district
• Sibah district
• Zinjibar district

Settlements

Abu amir Ad dirjajAd diyyuAhl fashshashAhl fulaysAhmad ash shaykhAl alamAl bahitahAl habilAl hamamAl hisnAl jawlAl kawdAl kawrAl khamilahAl khawrAl maarAl majalahAl mahalAl mahlajAl makhzan al fawqiAl makhzan al qaiAl masaniAl qarnAl qashabahAl qurnaahAn nashshAr rawdahAr rawwaAs samnAs sarriyahAs suda'Ash shabahAsh sharafAsh sharqiyahAt tariyahAth thalibAli hadiAmudiyahArabahArqub umm kubayrAryabAslanAwrumahBa taysBa zulayfahBarkanBathanBayt samnahDor SalamahFaranFarisJaarJahrahJawf umm maqbabahJiblat al farajJiblat al waznahJiblat badrJirshabKabaranKadamat al fayshKawd al abadilKawkabKawrat halimahKhabt al aslumKhanfarKhubanKuwashiLawdarMaghadihMakrarahMansabMaqasirMaqdahMartaahMasadiahMishalMudiyahMukayrasMunabMusaymirNaabNabNamirNaqalQarn al wadiQaryat ahl hidranQaryat husayn umm muhammadSakin ahl hidranSakin ahl mahathithSakin ahl sadahSakin ahl wuhayshSakin hazmSakin wuaysSayhanShams ad dinShaykh abdallahShaykh salimShubramShuqrahShurjanThirahWadibahZinjibarZughaynah

References

References

1. "Statistical Yearbook 2012". Central Statistical Organisation.
2. [http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=838&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=181&no_cache=1 The Resiliency of Yemen's Aden-Abyan Islamic Army]
3. Al Bawaba News [http://www.eurasiareview.com/yemen-al-qaeda-declares-south-province-as-islamic-emirate-31032011/ "Yemen: Al Qaeda Declares South province As “Islamic Emirate”"] {{webarchive. link. (4 April 2011 ''Eurasia Review'' 31 March 31, 2011)
4. New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/world/middleeast/31yemen.html/ Islamist Seize a Yemeni City, Stoking Fears]
5. [http://yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=3618 Islamic Militants suddenly take over Zinjibar, Abyan province]
6. "alarabiya.net 17 August 2011".
7. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-jaar-idUSBRE85B0O320120612 Yemeni army, in major victory, retakes two cities]