Al Mahrah Governorate

Al Mahrah (Arabic: ٱلْمَهْرَة Al-Mahrah), or simply Mahra, is a governorate (muhafazah) of Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Situated in the area of the former Mahra Sultanate, its capital is Al Ghaydah, and it has international borders with Oman.

Al Mahrah
ٱلْمَهْرَة
Governorate
The area of Hawf in Al-Mahrah
The area of Hawf in Al-Mahrah
Country Yemen
Region Hadramout Region
SeatAl Ghaydah
Government
 • GovernorMohammed Ali Yaser
Area
 • Total82,405 km2 (31,817 sq mi)
Population
[1]
 • Total500,000
 • Density6.1/km2 (16/sq mi)

Languages and people

A sizeable part of the Mahrah population does not speak Arabic as their primary language. Non-Arabic-speakers primarily speak Mehri or Mahri, which is a Modern South Arabian language,[2] similar to the adjacent Dhofar Governorate of Oman. The people that speak Mahri call themselves 'Mahris', and are presumed to be descendants of the ancient people of 'Ad.[3]

Geography

The geography of Al-Mahrah is similar to that of neighboring Dhofar in Oman. Rigid peaks rising to around 1,300 m (4,300 ft), and the Empty Quarter Desert lies to the north. Along its coast near the border with Oman, Al Mahrah is affected by the seasonal monsoon, or Khareef. The mountains become water-soaked and the atmosphere becomes moist and foggy as vegetation turns the barren coast into lush valleys and forests. Hauf National Park is located in Al-Mahrah.

The mountains here are referred to as either the "Mahrat"[4] or "Hadhramaut".[5]

Adjacent governorates

History
See also: Mahra Sultanate § History

Yemeni Civil War

The governorate has remained relatively untouched by the civil war in Yemen that began in 2015.[6]

On 10 September 2016, three militants in the Al Mahrah governorate declared on social media the formation of a new wilayat, or state, belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). However, official ISIL media did not acknowledge the declaration.[7]

From 2015 to late 2017, Al Mahrah was under the control of the Yemeni 123rd and 137th Mechanized Brigades.[8] From mid-November 2017 onwards, Saudi Arabia began increasing its presence in the governorate, taking control of facilities, Nishtun port, the Sarfit and Shehen border crossings, and al-Gaydah Airport, while establishing military outposts around key infrastructure and coastal areas.[8] On 27 November 2017, Mohammed Abdullah Kuddah, the governor of Al Mahrah, was replaced by Rajeh Said Bakrit, following the former's objections to Saudi influence.[8]

Districts

Al Mahrah Governorate is divided into the following 10 districts. These districts are further divided into sub-districts, and then further subdivided into villages:

See also

References
  1. "Statistical Yearbook 2011". Central Statistical Organisation. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. "GeoCurrents article". GeoCurrents. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  3. Caton, Steve (2013). Middle East in Focus: Yemen. ABC-CLIO, LLC. ISBN 978-1598849271.
  4. Cavendish, Marshall (2006). "I: Geography and climate". World and Its Peoples: The Middle East, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. Cavendish Publishing. pp. 9–144. ISBN 0-7614-7571-0.
  5. Scoville, Sheila A. (2006). Gazetteer of Arabia: a geographical and tribal history of the Arabian Peninsula. Vol. 2. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt. pp. 117–122. ISBN 0-7614-7571-0.
  6. "Middle East Monitor article". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  7. "Gulf of Aden Security Review - September 12, 2016". Critical Threats. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  8. "Saudi Arabia and the UAE in al-Mahra: Securing Interests, Disrupting Local Order, and Shaping a Southern Military". Jamestown. Retrieved 2019-06-23.

16°48′N 51°44′E

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