Sweida Governorate


Sweida 'Governorate' is one of the fourteen governorates of Syria. It is the country's southernmost governorate, covering an area of 5,550 km2, and is bordered by Daraa governorate in the west Rif Dimashq governorate in the north and northeast, and the country of Jordan in the south and southeast. The capital and largest city of the governorate is Suwayda.
Geographically the governorate comprises almost all of Jabal al-Druze, the eastern part of Lajat, and a part of the arid eastern steppe of Harrat al-Sham. Both Suwayda and Daraa governorates are part of the historic Hauran region.
Most inhabitants of As-Suwayda are employed in agriculture, cultivating crops such as grapes, apples, olives, and wheat. Additionally, As-Suwayda is home to numerous archaeological sites.
The governorate had a population of 313,231 in the 2004 census.
This governorate is unique in Syria as it has a Druze majority. Additionally, it has integrated Christian communities that have long coexisted harmoniously with the Druze in these mountains and a Sunni Muslim Bedouin minority.

History

Civil War (2011–present)

Geography

Districts

The governorate is divided into three districts. The districts are further divided into 12 sub-districts :
This list includes all cities, towns and villages with more than 5,000 inhabitants. Based on the 2004 census, the Suwayda Governorate was populated by 133 localities. The population figures are given according to the 2004 official census:
English namePopulationDistrict
Suwayda73,641Suwayda District
Shahba13,660Shahba District
Salkhad9,155Salkhad District
Qanawat8,324Suwayda District
Al-Kafr7,458Suwayda District
Al-Qurayya6,789Salkhad District
Ira6,136Suwayda District
Urman5,735Salkhad District
Ar-Raha5,711Suwayda District
Shaqqa5,116Shahba District

File:Maqam Al-masih.jpg|350px|thumb|Druze shrine on top of Jabal al-Druze
The governorate contains 3 cities, 124 towns/villages, and 36 hamlets.

Cities

  • Suwayda
  • Shahba
  • Salkhad

    Towns

  • Al-Ariqah
  • Dhibin
  • Al-Ghariyah
  • Malah
  • Al-Mazraa
  • Al-Mushannaf
  • Al-Qurayya
  • As-Sawra as-Saghira
  • Shaqqa

    Demographics

The governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants.
It is the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority. This is due to the large scale migration of the Druze from Lebanon from the mid-19th through the early 20th century. There is also a sizable Greek Orthodox minority, and a small Sunni Muslim Bedouin community. During the civil war, many Sunni Muslim refugees—mainly from Daraa Governorate as well as other parts of Syria—found refuge in Suwayda.
In the 1980s Druze made up 87.6% of the population, Christians 11% and Sunni Muslims 2%. In 2010, the As-Suwayda governorate has a population of about 375,000 inhabitants, Druze made up 90%, Christians 7% and Sunni Muslims 3%. Due to low birth and high emigration rates, Christians proportion in As-Suwayda had declined.
Most of the inhabitants live in the western parts of the governorate, especially on the western slopes of Jabal al-Druze. Only nomadic Bedouin tribes live in the barren region of Harrat al-Shamah.

Government

The Druze majority government has leant towards a semi independent status, with a lot of its history rejecting central Syrian government. During the Assad period, the Suwayda Government was largely free of serious conflict. However, during this period there was regular passive resistance to Assad's rule, with constant public protests with the people there closing the Baath party offices and removing Assad's posters on public, though this never escalated to armed revolution.
Similarly, attacks on minorities, in particular Druze peoples, have shaken confidence in the post Assad Government