Chart: Abyan Tribal Hierarchy

President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi is from a sub-tribe of the greater Fadhli confederation, the largest and most powerful tribal group in south Yemen. Though he fled to north Yemen in 1986 and sided with then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the 1994 civil war, he may be able to use his legitimacy as a southern tribesman to generate support in the fight against Ansar al Sharia.[1]

Click graphic to enlarge.

Sources

Abu Abdullah al Alhi, “Dathina (al Dathina),” Alh Tribe Council, December 12, 2010 [Arabic]. Available: http://alhtribe.net/vb/showthread.php?t=2372

“Tribes of Abyan governorate,” Hadramawt Forum, November 4, 2009 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.hdrmut.net/vb/t301337.html

“Division of the Fadhli tribes of Abyan governorate,” Abyan Onboard, April 6, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.abyanboard.net/ab/showthread.php/9662-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86

“Journey in the hometown of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi,” Al Masdar Online, February 26, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.net/index.php?page=news&news_id=29122

Dheeb Illa Al Balleili, “Correct organization of the tribes of Al Balleil al Alhiyya,” Alh Tribe Council, February 18, 2012 [Arabic]. Available: http://alhtribe.net/vb/showthread.php?t=7130

“Awlaqi tribes warn of consequences of cooperating with America to kill Awlaki,” Mareb Press, April 8, 2010 [Arabic]. Available: http://marebpress.net/news_details.php?sid=23858