Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour

Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour
Governor of Aden Governorate
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 December 2014
President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
Vice Minister of the
Yemeni Ministry of Education
In office
April 2001  June 2008
President Ali Abdullah Saleh
Personal details
Born August 8, 1955
Ghareer, Shabwah Governorate, Aden Protectorate (now Yemen)
Nationality Yemen Republic of Yemen
Political party General People's Congress
Children Rami, Rana, Ro'aa, Randa, Ru'waida[1]
Alma mater Leipzig University (Ph.D, 1992)
Berlin School of Economics and Law (M.Ec., 1988)
University of Aden (B.Ec., 1981)
Occupation politician, professor, university administrator
Religion Islam

Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour (born 8 August 1955) is a Yemeni politician who currently serves as Governor of Aden. He is a member of the General People's Congress, sitting on its permanent committee since 1995.[1] An ally of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, he condemned the 2014–15 Yemeni coup d'état[2] and received the deposed leader after his flight from the Houthi-controlled capital of Sana'a on 21 February 2015.[3] He is also a vocal opponent of the separatist movement in former South Yemen, saying the movement is too fractured and small to achieve its goals.[4][5]

Bin Habtour has also served as vice minister of education and rector of the University of Aden.[1]

Professional career

The University of Aden employed bin Habtour as a prorector from 1994 to 2001. In 2001, President Ali Abdullah Saleh named bin Habtour to serve as Vice Minister of Education, an office he held until 2008.[1] Afterward, he became president and rector of the University of Aden.[6]

President Hadi appointed bin Habtour to the governorship by decree on 22 December 2015.[7] He was sworn three days later.[8][9] As Aden's new governor, he confronted the unrest created by the Houthi takeover in 2015, including a pro-separatist uprising in Aden seaport.[5] He also met with Hadi after he fled to Aden from the capital of Sana'a.[3]

Personal life

Bin Habtour was born in 1955 in the Shabwah Governorate, part of what was then the British Aden Protectorate. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and administration from the University of Aden in 1981, a master's degree in economics from the Berlin School of Economics and Law in 1988, and a doctorate from Leipzig University in 1992. He is married with five children.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Curriculum Vitae". University of Aden. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. "Southern Yemen moves towards secession as Houthis call for reconciliation". Asharq al-Awsat. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Yemen leader meets governors after fleeing capital". Daily Mail. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  4. Al-Arashi, Fakhri (15 February 2015). "Aden’s Governor Says Secession Impossible". National Yemen. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Mukhashaf, Mohammed (16 February 2015). "Forces loyal to president seize parts of Yemen's economic hub". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. "To be affected by the world crisis, determined by relation to Washington: Mahatir". Almotamar.net. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. "Republican Decree Appoints Seven Governors". Yemen Observer. 25 December 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  8. "Newly-appointed governors sworn in". Saba News Agency. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. "Newly-appointed governors sworn in before President Hadi". President of the Republic of Yemen. 25 December 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.