Biography

Sultan Nagi ( Sultan Abdo Nagi )

• He was born on 9 January 1936, Sheikh Othman, Aden (Aden Colony).
• He learnt in Aden's Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools, and graduated from American University of Beirut in 1961, and from Reading University,United Kingdom in 1964.
• He was an expert in the Yemeni affairs, tens of researches and studies were published in specialized journals and academic periodicals.
• He wrote many books, his published and unpublished amounted to nearly sixty six.
• He died on April 6, 1989 in London, the United Kingdom, his body was transmitted to Sana'a, the Republic of Yemen where he was buried.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Arts “Arab History and Political Science“, American University Of Beirut, Lebanon, 1961.
• High Diploma in Educational Administration, Reading University, United Kingdom, 1964.
• Certificate of Teacher Training, Education Department, Aden Government, 1956.
• Certificate of General Culture, Ordinary and Higher, Aden College, London University, 1957.
• Training Courses for the High Administrative Levels, the Arab Institute for Administration Science, the Arab League, Cairo, 1971

Experience and positions occupied:
• Teacher in Aden Intermediate Schools (1956 – 1958).
• Teacher in Aden Secondary Schools (1961 – 1963)
• Officer of Education in the Headquarter of South Arab Union, and was mainly in charge of employment affairs, and appointment of teachers arriving from abroad to Aden Intermediate and Secondary Schools (1964 – 1967).
• Vice Director of Central Organization of Civil Services in the South Arab Union Government (middle of 1967 up to independence).
• Director of Central Organization of Civil Services in People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1967 – 1971).
• Lecturer of the History of Yemen in High College of Education, University of Aden (1972 – 1976).
• Devoted himself to study history of Yemen and researches in Aden (1976 – 1986).
• Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Yemen Arab Republic (1988 until his death).

He was charged with collecting, studying and analyzing documents and maps of Yemeni - Omani border lines by Government of People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (1982), and Yemeni - Saudi Arabia by Government of Yemen Arab Republic (1987). Because of these tasks, he went frequently to (London) to do research study and to collect information in the India Office Library and the British Museum as well as the British House of Documents. During his last trip to UK on 4th April 1989, while he was studying and examining documents, he felt indisposed and incapable of concentrating on his mission, so he had to return to his residence at Park West - Kindal St., London. There, he suddenly had a severe internal bleeding and consequently he entered to Saint Mary`s hospital– London where he died on 6th April.

His efforts resulted in providing the historical and legal grounds for negotiations of governments of two parts of Yemen and concluding the borders agreement with the two neighboring countries (Saudi Arabia and Oman), and also during the international arbitration with Eritrea regarding the conflict about Hunaish Island.

Political, Cultural and Social Activities:
• Member of Supreme People's Council (Parliament) in People's Democratic Republic of Yemen for two sessions (from 1978 to 1986).
• One of the founders and member of clandestine presidency council "Political Bureau" for Socialist People's Party – Political Wing for Labor's Conference in Aden during British rule (since its establishment in 1962 until banning its activities and pursuing its members after independence).
• Member of the Sheikh Othman/ al Mansura/ al Imad Late Registration Committees - Adenise Committees which give birthday certificates for Adenies - (1965–1966).
• One of the founders of Alumni Conference in Aden (in 1960s).
• Founder and Chairman of the History Chair in High College of Education before establishment of Aden University (1972).
• One of the founders of Yemeni Writers Union, and member of its first executive council (in the 1970s –1980s).
• One of the founders of Yemeni Center for Cultural Researches, Monuments and Museums in Aden, and member of its first board of directors (in the 1970s – 1980s).
• Member of Committee of Unity between the two parts of Yemen for Education, Culture and Information (in the 1970s – 1980s).
• Member of Committee of Unity between the two parts of Yemen composing the joint Book of History Composition for Yemen's Schools, and Chairman of Original Committee for writing the Yemeni History (in the 1970s – 1980s).
• Member of Yemeni Writers and Archaeologists Association (in the 1970s - 1980s).
• Fellow of British Royal Society for Middle East Studies in London (in the 1980s).
• One of the founders of Arab Organization for Human Rights in Cyprus (in the 1980s).
• Member of Board of Editors' of "Dirasat Journal" issued by Alumni Conference in Aden. (in the 1960s).
• Member of Board of Editors' of "Al-Hikmah Journal" issued by Yemeni Writers Union in Aden (in the 1970s).
• Member of Board of Editors' of "Al Ekleel Journal" issued by Ministry of culture in Sana'a (in the 1980s).
• Member of Board of Editors' of "Arab Historian Journal" issued by Arab Historian Union in Baghdad (in the 1970s – 1980s).

Permanent participant in sessions and conferences of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula centers, mainly:
• Center for the Arabian Gulf Studies, Basra University, Iraq.
• Center for the Arabian Gulf Studies, Exeter University, United Kingdom.
• Center for the Middle East Studies, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
• Center for the Arab Unity Studies, Beirut, Lebanon.

He got many medals, decorations and certificates in various occasions, most important:
• He was honored twice in science festival day in People's Democratic Republic of Yemen in 1975 and 1977.
• Medal of the State for Literature and Arts in People's Democratic Republic of Yemen in 1977.
• Medal of Arab Historian from Arab Historians Union in Baghdad (1987).
• First- class medal of the State for Sciences, Literature and Arts in Yemen Arab Republic (1989).
• Second-class medal of Independence, November 30, in Republic of Yemen (1997).
• Medal of the twenty-fifth anniversary for University of Aden Foundation (2000).
• Honorary certificate on the occasion of the Writer's Day from Yemeni Writers' Union (2006).
• Silver medal of the fortieth anniversary for University of Aden Foundation (2010).

Permanent address: 5, Timna Street, Embassies quarter, Khormaksar, Aden, Yemen. The historian's house in which he lived most of his life and witnessed most of his intellectual production is still existing and preserved with a special library as family's legacy.

Social situation:
His origins are declining from north, Al-Maqatera, alhujrea. Family Surname: Al – Mukaberi. His father, Abdo Nagi Mohammed Ahmed Saeed al-Mukabri al- Maqtari(1909 - 1961),who settled and worked in Aden colony, Ma’alla and Tawahi districts in particular, since the 1930’s up to his death in 1961 a few days after his return from pilgrimage visit, and then he was buried in his birth place in Al-Maqtera. His mother, Noor Bint Abdulla Bin Ali al- Maqtari. He was the second among his brothers: Galilah, Latifah, Ahmed and Sharaf.

He got married in 1961 from, Fardoos Mohammed Ahmed al-Asnag, who accompanied him during his life until he died. She worked as a teacher in Aden intermediate and secondary schools, now she is retired, with five sons and daughters:

Oras (16 May 1962 – 25 Feb. 2015): Graduate of Medicine, Aden University. Physician & Professor in Faculty of Medicine -Aden University, member of parliament for two terms (since 1997 until passed away). She was the only woman in the Yemeni parliament of 301 members.
Osan (1965): Graduate of Law, Aden University. Advocate & Legal consultant, employee at Aden Free Zone Authority.
Maeen (1968): Graduate of Well Drilling Engineering, Baghdad Petroleum Institute. Diplomat at Yemen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Yazan (1971): Graduate of Law, Aden University. Professor in Faculty of Law, Aden University.
Raydan (1972): Graduate of English Literature, Aden University. Diplomat at Yemen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Madam, Fardoos al-Asnag is descendant of highbred Adeni family and known with pioneering and contribution in the social, cultural and political activity mainly during the British rule in Aden and in Yemen generally. She is granddaughter of writer & author , Ahmed Mohammed Saeed al-Asnag