Manbij (Minbic / Mumbuj)

Manbij (Arabic: منبج‎; Kurdish: Minbic‎) is a city in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.

In the 2004 census by the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Manbij had a population of nearly 100,000. The residents of Manbij are ethnically diverse, including Arabs, Kurds, Circassians and Chechens, and includes followers of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.

Manbij has a long and rich history, stretching well back into antiquity.

Prior to and in the early years of the Syrian Civil War, the city’s socio-political life was dominated by its main tribes. Tribal leaders served as the mediators and arbiters of major disputes in Manbij, while the state’s security forces largely dealt with petty offences.

On 20 July 2012, Manbij fell to local rebel forces, who then administered the city. ln December, there was an election to appoint a local council.

In January 2014, forces from Daesh (The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant / ISIL) took over the city after ousting the rebels. The city became a hub for trading in looted artefacts and archaeological digging equipment.

In June 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched an offensive to capture Manbij, and by June 8 had fully encircled the city. On 12 August the SDF established full control over Manbij after a two-month battle.

By 15 August 2016, thousands of previously displaced citizens of Manbij were reported to be returning to the city.

 

On 19 August 2016, the Manbij Military Council issued a written statement announcing it had taken over the security of Manbij city centre and villages from the SDF, of which it is a part.

On 12 March 2017, the Legislative Assembly of Manbij approved the elected co-presidents who then took office. During the meeting the departments of the committee members, co-presidents and committees were determined after speeches and evaluations. 13 committees where determined, whose members include 71 Arabs, 43 Kurds, 10 Turkmen, 8 Circassians, and an Armenian and a Chechen.

Manbij is currently self-administered by the Manbij City Council, as part of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.

‘Our main goal is to create an equal, just and democratic society based on women’s freedom’

Mekiye Hiso, a member of the Syrian Women's Assembly, said that they have once again realised the importance of women's self-defence with the revolution in North and East Syria, adding that they will focus more on organisation in Syrian cities.

Politics of the scorched earth continue in whole Kurdistan

The Turkish state is using the burning of forests and the destruction of nature as a tactic of warfare against the people of the region. The Kurds, but also the Arabic and Christian populations in the region of Mesopotamia* are trying to create attempts of local democracies and autonomy, for which the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North-East Syria is only one example.

Agriculture flourishes in Rojava despite attacks

In Northern and Eastern Syria, which has fertile agricultural lands, 81,673 farmers work on 7 million 521,621 decares. Despite the attacks of the Turkish state, agriculture is flourishing.

Manbij shifts to trading hub in NE Syria due to strategic location

Residents in the city of Manbij, northern Syria, believe the city’s location between three areas of control made it strategically important.

Translation: Administrative Divisions Law

In preparation for the forthcoming municipal elections in NES, planned for 11th of June [now postponed to 8 August, 2024], the DAANES passed a new law defining the administrative divisions of the NES region. This follows the DAANES’ publication of the new Social Contract in December 2023.

An Overview of AANES Women’s Institutions in Manbij

The case of Manbij, liberated from ISIS by the SDF in August 2016, shows how women in a multi-ethnic Syrian city used AANES [the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria] frameworks to build institutions, take on leadership roles, and organize in their communities to change discriminatory attitudes.

Manbij Women Develop Their Own Economy

With a view to empowering women and developing themselves economically, the Women's Committee opened the Women's Economy Center in Manbij city and its rural areas on 20 November, 2017 as a starting point for launching plans to activate the role of women in the economic sphere, and confirm of [their] basic role and [their] achievements in work at all levels.

Beit Al-Barakah Co-operative Prepared Winter Supplies in Two Months

The ten workers in Al Barakah Co-operative are about to finish making the winter supplies, such as dried vegetables, pickles, pumpkin jam and olives. The Women’s Council announced the formation of this co-operative, in co-ordination with the Committee of Economy and Municipalities. The co-operative is called Beit Al Barakah [House of Delight], and it aims to get women

The First Women’s Co-op in Manbij: The House of Delight

The Women’s Committee in Manbij formed a co-operative for women on 6 September in co-ordination with the Economic Committee. It included a number of women who will make winter foods and distribute them to the markets. The co-operative includes 10 workers who joined as members by buying 16 shares.

An Important Project Develops Women’s Economy

The Women's Committee of the Civil Democratic Administration in Manbij started working in the sewing workshop which was named on behalf of the Martyr Sakina Asalieh.

How North and East Syria’s Co-operatives and Autonomous Structures Handle a Pandemic

North and East Syria faces serious challenges in the fight against COVID-19. 600,000 IDPs and refugees live in camps across the region, their situation already precarious without a pandemic. Ongoing attacks by Turkish forces, Turkey-backed militias, and ISIS complicate the security situation and threaten essential civilian infrastructure like water lines. According to the Rojava Information Center,

The Role of Co-operative Societies in Developing Rojava’s Economy

The Economic Committee in Manbij has opened many co-operatives to improve the economy and curb monopoly.