Suwayda Governorate

Civil War (2011–present) ==Geography==

Districts The governorate is divided into three districts (manatiq). The districts are further divided into 12 sub-districts (nawahi): • Suwayda District (3 sub-districts) • Suwayda Subdistrict • Al-Mazraa Subdistrict • Al-Mushannaf Subdistrict • Salkhad District (5 sub-districts) • Salkhad Subdistrict • Al-Qurayya Subdistrict • Al-Ghariyah Subdistrict • Dhibin Subdistrict • Malah Subdistrict • Shahba District (4 sub-districts) • Shahba Subdistrict • Shaqqa Subdistrict • Al-Ariqah Subdistrict • As-Sawra as-Saghira Subdistrict Cities, towns and villages 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: 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 (est. 2010). 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 (and to a lesser extent, the Galilee) 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 (mostly Greek Orthodox) 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 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 == See also ==