Kobanî Canton

Kobanî Canton
Kantona Kobaniyê
one of three de facto autonomous cantons
of the region of Rojava in Syria

Flag
Emblem
Kobanî

Kobanî in Syria

Coordinates (Kobanî): 36°53′29″N 38°21′12″E / 36.891428°N 38.353271°E / 36.891428; 38.353271Coordinates: 36°53′29″N 38°21′12″E / 36.891428°N 38.353271°E / 36.891428; 38.353271
Country  Syria
Governorate Aleppo
Autonomy declared January 27, 2014 (2014-01-27)
Administrative center Kobanî
Occupation People's Protection Units
Government
 • Prime Minister Enver Muslim
Population
 • Estimate (2013) 400,000
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Area code +963 21
Map of the Kobanî Canton in February 2014
Frontline situation near Kobanî in late October 2014

Kobanî Canton (Kurdish: Kantona Kobaniyê‎) is the central of three cantons of de facto autonomous 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 (ISIL) on its other borders.

The cantonal capital city is Kobanî, which was under besiege 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

Main article: 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]

Military situation in the Syrian Civil War as of February 15, 2016.
  Controlled by Syrian Government forces
  Controlled by Kurdish forces (Rojava)
  Controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
  Controlled by al-Nusra Front
  Controlled by Syrian opposition forces

(For a more detailed map, see Cities and towns during the Syrian Civil War)

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), 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 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]

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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, February 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.