Euphrates Region
Kobanî Canton
Kantona Kobaniyê | |
|---|---|
 Flag .svg) Emblem | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Aleppo |
| Autonomy declared | January 27, 2014 |
| Administrative center | Kobanî |
| Occupation |  People's Protection Units |
| Government | |
| • Prime Minister | Enver Muslim |
| Population | |
| • Estimate (2013) | 400,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Area code | +963 21 |
Kobanî Canton ([Kantona Kobaniyê] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is the central of three de facto autonomous cantons of Rojava in northern Syria. Although officially remaining part of Aleppo Governorate, Kobanî Canton was declared autonomous in January 2014, and since then, it has been has been administered by the interim government of the Kurdish Supreme Committee.[1]
Kobanî Canton is bordered by Turkey to the north, Jazira Canton to the east, and is at war with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on its other borders.
The cantonal capital city is Kobanî, which was besieged between October 2014 and January 2015 by ISIL.[2]
History
The present Kurdish populated area on the left bank of the Euphrates was settled by Kurdish tribes at the beginning of the 17th century.[3]
Siege of Kobanî
Kobanî Canton has been fighting ISIL militants since 2014. In September 2014, ISIL occupied much of the Kobanî Canton, seizing more than 100 Kurdish villages.[4][5] As a consequence of the ISIL occupation, up to 200,000 Kurdish refugees fled from the Kobanî Canton to Turkey.[4] Many were allowed in, though they were not allowed to enter with any vehicles or livestock that they had.[6]
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(For a more detailed, interactive map, see Template:Syrian Civil War detailed map.)
In the seized villages, ISIL militants committed massacres and kidnapped women.[5] ISIL militants, however, were not able to occupy the entire canton, as the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Women's Protection Units (YPJ) forces managed to defend the city of Kobanî and several nearby settlements. After weeks of isolation as a result of Turkey blocking arms and fighters from entering the city, due to the general hostility of the Turkish towards Kurds with any links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)[citation needed], the US-led coalition finally began to target ISIL with a larger number of airstrikes. This move helped the YPG/YPJ to force ISIL to retreat from the city, and much of the surrounding region was retaken by Kurdish forces. However, Turkey's continuing blockade [clarification needed] of the city means that the position of the YPG/YPJ's anti-ISIL resistance is unstable.[7]
Geography
Kobanî Canton is bordered by Turkey to the north and Jazira Canton to the east. It is currently bordered by the Euphrates River to the west and is at war with ISIL to the south.
Demographics
The current population of Kobanî Canton is unknown due to substantial refugee movements; however, the population of the territory prior to 2014 was estimated at roughly 400,000, with an ethnic Kurdish majority.[8] Due to intense fighting at least three-quarters of the population fled across the border to Turkey in 2014;[9] however, many returned in 2015.[10]
Administration
Kobanî's Legislative Assembly has appointed a president, two deputies and 22 ministers to rule Kobanî Canton. Its prime minister is Enver Müslim. According to the constitutional Charter of the Social Contract, the Kobanî Canton's Legislative Assembly on its 27 January 2014 session declared autonomy. The assembly elected Enver Müslim prime minister, who appointed Bêrîvan Hesen and Xalid Birgil his deputies. The government is lobbying for a humanitarian corridor, and the creation of new refugee camps inside Syria, where they can help with rebuilding.[11]
- Foreign Minister: Îbrahîm Kurdo
- Minister of Defense :Îsmet Şêx Hesen
- Interior Minister: Ehmed Osman Dadilî
- Minister of Regional Commissions, Municipalities and Planning: Mistefa Ebdî
- Minister of Finance: Eliya Sîdî
- Minister of Labor and Social Security: Mehmud Bişirî Beşar
- Minister of Education: Hisên Mehemed Elî
- Minister of Agriculture: Gulistan Etî Bikî
- Minister of Health: Dr. Neesan Ehmed
- Minister of Trade and Economy: Mehmud Bozan Mislim
- Minister of Martyrs’ Families: Mehemed Şeban
- Minister of Culture: Ebdilrezaq Elî
- Minister of Transportation: Riyad Temo Mistefa
- Minister of Youth and Sport: Welat Derwîş Derwîş
- Minister of History and Tourism: Mîdya Hemo Genco
- Minister of Religious Affairs: Mehemed Zahir Mistefa
- Minister of Women and Family Affairs: Wehîde Umer
- Minister of Human Rights: Şahîn
- Minister of Supervision: Ehmed Daban
- Minister of Information: Şevîn Mehmud
- Minister of Justice: Ewas Xelîl Elî
- Minister of Energy: Fazil Mistefa Ehmed
Economy
Economic priorities are the continuing war and reconstruction, including help for returning refugees.[10]
Reconstruction
Most of the city and surrounding villages have been destroyed or badly damaged, and there is a danger of landmines. There is no power and not enough food, clean water or housing. Reconstruction will cost billions of dollars.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "Second canton in Western Kurdistan declares itself autonomous". Nationalia. 27 July 2014.
- ^ "The Constitution of the Rojava Cantons". Personal Website of Mutlu Civiroglu.
- ^ Jordi Tejel (2008). Syria's Kurds: History, Politics and Society. Routledge. pp. 10–. ISBN 978-1-134-09643-5.
- ^ a b Constanze Letsch (22 September 2014). "Isis onslaught against Kurds in Syria brings 'man-made disaster' into Turkey". the Guardian.
- ^ a b "ISIL seizes 21 Kurdish villages in northern Syria, close in on Kobane". AFP/Reuters. 18 September 2014.
- ^ Ayla Albayrak (17 October 2014). "Hundreds Wait for Kobani Fighting to End, Risking Lives at Border". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "YPG official: Airstrikes not enough to protect Kobani". Al-Monitor. 14 October 2014.
- ^ "Kobane Under Intense ISIS Attack, Excluded from UN Humanitarian Aid". Rudaw. 17 July 2014.
- ^ "Syria says giving military support to Kurds in Kobani". The Daily Star. Agence France-Presse. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c "The dangerous rebuilding of Kobani".
- ^ "Kobani: destroyed and riddled with unexploded bombs, but its residents dare to dream of a new start". Guardian. 2015-01-31.