Yemen Arab Republic
| Yemen Arab Republic | ||||||||||
| الجمهورية العربية اليمنية al-Jumhūrīyah al-‘Arabīyah al-Yamanīyah | ||||||||||
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| Anthem Peace To The Land (before 1978) A Nation's Will (after 1978) | ||||||||||
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| Capital | Sana'a | |||||||||
| Government | Unitary one-party state under military junta | |||||||||
| President | ||||||||||
| • | 1962–1967 (first) | Abdullah as-Sallal | ||||||||
| • | 1978–1990 (last) | Ali Abdullah Saleh | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | ||||||||||
| • | 1962–1963 (first) | Abdullah as-Sallal | ||||||||
| • | 1983–1990 (last) | Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani | ||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | |||||||||
| • | Established | 27 September 1962 | ||||||||
| • | Unification | 22 May 1990 | ||||||||
| Area | ||||||||||
| • | 1990 | 195,000 km² (75,290 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | ||||||||||
| • | 1990 est. | 7,160,981 | ||||||||
| Density | 36.7 /km² (95.1 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Currency | North Yemeni rial | |||||||||
| Calling code | +967 | |||||||||
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| Today part of |  Yemen | |||||||||
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The Yemen Arab Republic (YAR; Arabic: الجمهورية العربية اليمنية al-Jumhūrīyah al-‘Arabīyah al-Yamanīyah), also known as North Yemen or Yemen (Sana'a), was a country from 1962 to 1990 in the northwestern part of what is now Yemen.[1] Its capital was at Sana'a. It united with the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, commonly known as South Yemen, on May 22, 1990, to form the current Republic of Yemen.
History
Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 after the Great War, northern Yemen became an independent state as the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen. On 27 September 1962, revolutionaries inspired by the Arab nationalist ideology of United Arab Republic (Egyptian) President Gamal Abdel Nasser deposed the newly crowned King Muhammad al-Badr, took control of Sana'a, and established the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR). This coup d'état marked the beginning of the North Yemen Civil War that pitted YAR troops, assisted by the United Arab Republic (Egypt), against Badr's royalist forces, supported by Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Conflict continued periodically until 1967, when Egyptian troops were withdrawn to join the conflict of the Six-Day War. By 1968, following a final royalist siege of Sana'a, most of the opposing leaders reached a reconciliation. Saudi Arabia recognized the Republic in 1970.
Unlike East and West Germany or North and South Korea, the YAR and its southern neighbor, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY), also known as South Yemen, remained relatively friendly, though relations were often strained. In 1972 the two nations declared that unification would eventually occur. However, these plans were put on hold in 1979, and war was prevented only by an Arab League intervention. The goal of unity was reaffirmed by the northern and southern heads of state during a summit meeting in Kuwait in March 1979.
Reunification
In May 1988, the YAR and PDRY governments came to an understanding that considerably reduced tensions. They agreed to renew discussions concerning unification, to establish a joint oil exploration area along their undefined border, to demilitarize the border, and to allow Yemenis unrestricted border passage on the basis of a national identification card.
Official Yemeni unification took place on May 22, 1990, with a planned, 30-month process, scheduled for completion in November 1992. The first stamp bearing the inscription "Yemen Republic" was issued in October 1990.[2] While government ministries proceeded to merge, both currencies remained valid until 11 June 1996. A civil war in 1994 delayed the completion of the final merger.
See also
- History of Yemen
- Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
- President of North Yemen
- Prime Minister of North Yemen
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 188
References
- ↑ The United States extended diplomatic recognition to the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) on 19 December 1962, The Times, 20 December 1962.
- ↑ Scott (2008) "Yemen," Scott 2009 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Volume 6 (165th edition) Scott Publishing Co., Sidney, Ohio, page 1081. ISBN 978-0-89487-422-2
Coordinates: 15°21′17″N 44°12′24″E / 15.35472°N 44.20667°E