The Federation of South Arabia, known from 1959–1962 as the Federation of the Emirates of South Arabia, or simply as South Arabia, was a federal state under British protection in South Arabia. Its capital was Al-Ittihad,Parliament Building in Al Ittihad, the capital of the Federation of South Arabia a suburb of Aden.

History

Federation of the Emirates of South Arabia The Federation of six states was inaugurated in the British Colony of Aden on 11 February 1959, and the Federation and Britain signed a "Treaty of Friendship and Protection," which detailed plans for British financial and military assistance. It subsequently added nine states and, on 4 April 1962, became known as the Federation of South Arabia. This was joined by the Aden Colony on 18 January 1963.

Federation of South Arabia On 23 July 1962, negotiations began in London between the British Minister of Colonies, Duncan Sandys, and the ministers of the Federation of South Arabia and the Colony of Aden. The parties raised the issue of the constitutional status of Aden and the conditions for its entry into the federation. Numerous parties and organisations in Aden protested against these negotiations, declaring that the colonial ministers did not have the right to decide the fate of the population of Aden and that only the national government of Aden, created by general elections, would be competent to decide the question of a union with the federation. To achieve all this, it was necessary to eliminate its dependence on Britain.

The Federation of South Arabia was formed on 18 January 1963,The Federation of South Arabia (Accession of Aden) Order 1963 (pdf) at Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2026. from 15 states of the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South and the Royal Colony of Aden. After the annexation of the Upper Aulaki Sultanate in June 1964, the federation included 17 states.

Representatives of the opposition, led by the Aden Trade Union Congress (ATUC), said that any union concluded against the will of the people of Aden would be dissolved at the first opportunity. On the day the London negotiations began, a protest strike was declared in Aden. The ATUC called for this strike, despite the fact that Aden had had a law prohibiting strikes since 1960, and violators were subject to imprisonment.The Times (24.VII.1962), p. 8.Aden Chronicle (12 July 1962), p. 1.

On 16 August 1962, negotiations ended with the signing of an agreement according to which Aden, while remaining under British sovereignty, would become part of the Federation of South Arabia. The agreement came into force on 18 January 1963, with Aden fully integrated on 1 April 1963. This agreement was explicitly an addition to the federation agreement of 11 February 1959, which remained in force.Aden Chronicle (23 August 1962), p. 3. During these negotiations, agreement was also reached to introduce minor changes to the constitutional status of Aden once it became part of the federation.Aden Chronicle (4 October 1962), pp. 1, 28.

In 1965, the British temporarily removed the government of the Federation of South Arabia and imposed direct colonial rule.Dean, Lucy (2004). "The Middle East and North Africa". Издание 2004 года. Routledge. Страница 1211.

In 1966, the Federation team took part in the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

On 30 November 1967, the Federation was dissolved following independence, along with the Protectorate of South Arabia, and the formation of the People's Republic of Southern Yemen.

States Federation of the Emirates of South Arabia Founding states

Subsequent members Alawi Aqrabi Dathina Haushabi

Lower Aulaqi

Federation of South Arabia State of Aden Alawi Sheikhdom Aqrabi Sheikhdom Audhali Sultanate Emirate of Beihan Dathina Sheikhdom Emirate of Dhala Fadhli Sultanate Haushabi Sultanate Sultanate of Lahej Lower Aulaqi Sultanate Sultanate of Lower Yafa Muflahi Sheikhdom Sheikhdom of Shaib Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom Upper Aulaqi Sultanate Wahidi Sultanate: consisted originally of four sub-sultanates: Wahidi Balhaf, Wahidi Azzan, Wahidi Bir Ali, Wahidi Haban

List of rulers State Last Ruler Deposed House Reign Ref(s) Alawi Salih ibn Sayil 28 August 1967 Al Alawi Last reigning Sheikh (1940–1967). Aqrabi Mahmud ibn Muhammad 28 August 1967 Al Aqrabi Last reigning Sheikh (1957–1967). Audhali Salih ibn al-Husayn 17 September 1967 Al Audhali Last reigning Sultan (1928–1967). Lower Aulaqi Nasir ibn Aidrus 29 November 1967 Al Awlaqi Last reigning Sultan (1947–1967). Upper Aulaqi Awad ibn Salih 29 November 1967 Al Awlaqi Last reigning Sultan (1935–1967). Beihan Saleh bin al-Husayn 28 August 1967 Al Habieli Last reigning Emir (1935–1967). Dhala Shafaul ibn Ali Shaif 17 August 1967 Al Amiri Last reigning Emir (1954–1967). Fadhli Nasir bin Abdullah 29 November 1967 Al Fadhli Last reigning Sultan (1964–1967). Haushabi Faisal bin Surur 29 November 1967 Al Haushabi Last reigning Sultan (1955–1967). Lahej Fadhl VI bin Ali 17 August 1967 Al Abdali Last reigning Sultan (1958–1967). Wahidi Balhaf Ali ibn Muhammad 17 August 1967 Al Wahidi Last governing Hakim (1967). Wahidi Bir Ali Alawi ibn Salih 29 November 1967 Last reigning Sultan (1955–1967). Wahidi Haban Husayn ibn Abdullah 29 November 1967 Last reigning Sultan (until 1967). Lower Yafa Mahmud ibn Aidrus 28 August 1967 Al Afifi Last reigning Sultan (1954–1967).

Chief Ministers Hassan Ali Bayumi (18 January 1963 – 24 June 1963) Zayn Abdu Baharun (9 July 1963 – 23 January 1965) Abdul-Qawi Hassan Makkawi (7 March 1965 – 25 September 1965) Ali Musa al-Babakr (25 September 1965 – 30 August 1966) Salih al-Awadli (30 August 1966 – 30 November 1967)

High Commissioners

Sir Charles Johnston (18 January 1963 – 17 July 1963) Sir Kennedy Trevaskis (17 July 1963 – 21 December 1964) Sir Richard Turnbull (21 December 1964 – 22 May 1967) Sir Humphrey Trevelyan (22 May 1967 – 30 November 1967)

Postage stamps

The Federation issued its own postage stamps from 1963 to 1966, replacing postage stamps of Aden. Most of its issues were part of the omnibus issues common to all the Commonwealth territories, but it did issue its own definitive stamps on 1 April 1965. The set of 14 included 10 values, from 5 to 75 fils, each depicting the arms of the Federation in a single colour, while the top four values (100 fils, 250 fils, 500 fils, and 1 dinar), featured the flag of the Federation.

The stamps referred to above are those listed in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog. A number of other stamps were also issued and are listed in Stanley Gibbons and other widely used stamp catalogs. It is possible, or even likely, that some of the stamps of South Arabia were not issued primarily for postal use.

See also United Nations Security Council Resolution 188

References Explanatory notes

Citations

Further reading Paul Dresch. A History of Modern Yemen. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2000. R.J. Gavin. Aden Under British Rule: 1839-1967. London: C. Hurst & Company, 1975. Tom Little. South Arabia: Arena of Conflict. London: Pall Mall Press, 1968.

External links