Socotra Governorate

Socotra Archipelago (Arabic: أرخبيل سقطرى‎ ʾArḫabīl Suquṭrā) or Suqutra is officially one of the governorates of Yemen. It is composed of the Guardafui Channel's archipelago of Socotra.

Socotra
Suqutra

سقطرى
Governorate
Country Yemen
SeatHadibu (Tamrida)
Government
 • GovernorRamzi Bin Mahroos Al-Socotri
Population
 (2004)
 • Total44,120
Socotra Archipelago
Topographic map of the districts of Socotra

History

Since before British rule, Socotra had been part of the Mahra Sultanate, and remained so after Mahra became part of Aden Protectorate. With the independence of South Yemen in 1967, the archipelago was attached to the Aden Governorate, despite its distance. In 2004, it was moved to the Hadhramaut Governorate.[1] Since December 2013, it has been a governorate of its own.[2]

On April 30, 2018, the United Arab Emirates, as part of the ongoing Yemen Civil War, deployed troops and took administrative control of Socotra Airport and seaport.[3][4] On May 14, 2018, Saudi troops were also deployed on the island and a deal was brokered between the United Arab Emirates and Yemen for a joint military training exercise and the return of administrative control of Socotra's airport and seaport to Yemen.[5][6][7]

The Southern Transitional Council seized control of the island in June 2020.[8]

Islands

The archipelago consists of four large islands: Socotra, Abd al Kuri, Samhah, and Darsah, as well as 3 small islets to the north of the archipelago.

Island name Coordinates area (km2 population
Socotra 12°29′N 53°52′E 3,796 60,000
Abd al Kuri 12°11′N 52°13′E 130.2 450
Samhah 12°09′20″N 53°02′30″E 39.6 100
Darsah 12°07′10″N 53°16′30″E 7.5 0
Ka'l Fir'awn (north) 12°26′26″N 52°08′17″E 0.17 0
Ka'l Fir'awn (south) 12°26′14″N 52°08′02″E 0.12 0
Sabuniyah 12°38′12″N 53°09′27″E 0.05 0

Districts
  • Hidaybu District (consisting of the eastern two-thirds of Socotra Island)
  • Qulensya Wa Abd Al Kuri District (consisting of the western third of Socotra Island, together with Abd al-Kuri island, Hamha Island and (uninhabited) Darsa Island)
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References
  1. Abulohoom, Ali (29 October 2013). "INDEPENDENT SOCOTRA GOVERNORATE: PAVING THE WAY FOR A FEDERAL YEMEN OR A HINT AT SEPARATION?". Yemen Times. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  2. Yaseen, Mohammad (14 May 2014). "Socotra, promising tourist site facing challenges". Saba News Agency. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  3. "Yemen officials say Emiratis boost forces on Socotra island". The Washington Post.
  4. "SOCOTRA: HOW A STRATEGIC ISLAND BECAME PART OF A GULF POWER STRUGGLE". Jerusalem Post.
  5. "Yemen PM: Crisis over UAE deployment to Socotra over". Al Jazeera.
  6. "Yemen, UAE Agree on Deal Over Socotra". Albawaba News.
  7. "Saudi Arabia deploys troops to Yemen's Socotra after UAE's military build-up". Press TV.
  8. Mukhashaf, Mohammed; El Yaakoubi, Aziz (June 21, 2020). Kasolowsky, Raissa (ed.). "Yemen separatists seize remote Socotra island from Saudi-backed government". Reuters. On Saturday, the STC announced it had seized government facilities and military bases on the main island of Socotra, a sparsely populated archipelago which sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

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