Axumite control of South Arabia continues until about 525 or 530, when Sumuafa' Ashawa' is deposed by Abraha, who proclaims himself king.

Abraha had aroused the wrath of Kaléb by withholding tribute; Kaleb had then sent his general 'Ariat to take over the governorship of Yemen.

'Abraha had rid himself of the latter by a subterfuge in a duel resulting in 'Ariat being killed and 'Abraha suffering the injury which earned him the sobriquet of al-Asräm, "scar-face."

According to Procopius (Histories 1.20), 'Abraha seized the control of Yemen from Esimiphaeus (Sumuafa' Ashawa'), the Christian Himyarite viceroy appointed by Kaléb, with the support of dissident elements within the Aksum occupation force who were eager to settle in the Yemen, at this time a rich and fertile land.

Stuart Munro-Hay, who proposes a 518 date for the rise of Dhu Nuwas, dates this event to 525, while by the later chronology (in which Dhu Nuwas comes to power in 523), this event would have happened about 530, although a date as late as 543 has been postulated by Jacques Ryckmans.

An army sent by Kaléb to subdue 'Abraha joins his ranks and kills the ruler sent to replace him (this is perhaps a reference to 'Ariat) and a second army is defeated.

After this Kaléb, has to accord Abraha de facto recognition; he will eventually earn recognition under Kaleb's successor for a nominal tribute.