The tragic events that began in Yemen in 2011 during the so-called Arab Spring led to the division of the country and a months-long civil war that broke out in September 2014. In 2016, there was also a complete collapse of the Yemeni economy, accompanied by a catastrophic drop in the standard of living of the population.

The economy of Yemen at all periods of its existence belonged to the category of the least developed and poorest Arab economies. Of the 22 countries that make up the Arab League, only Sudan and Mauritania had a lower GDP per capita than Yemen - according to the latest World Bank data - US$1,300 in 2013. The state budget until 2014 was financed by 70% due to oil and natural gas production, as well as through foreign assistance - $3.25 billion according to data for 2012, coming mainly from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - KSA.

The permanent president of first Northern and then the entire united Yemen, Ali Abdallah Saleh, was forced, under internal and international pressure, to resign from his post in November 2011. But already at the end of 2014, he returned to an active struggle for power, uniting with his former political opponents from among the Zaydi Shiites. Their political organization "Ansar Allah" - "Helpers of Allah" gained fame as "Houthi" - after the name of the founders of the movement from the Al-Houthi clan. The Houthis stood at the head of the northern Yemeni tribes from the Saada province and in September 2014 led several tens of thousands of armed militants, who by the beginning of 2015 had established control over almost all of Yemen, including its southern capital Aden. Only the remote southeastern provinces of Shabwa, Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra remained uncontrolled by the Houthis.

President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, after being removed from office, took refuge in KSA. In March 2015, the Kingdom led the Arab coalition in an airborne operation called "Storm of Determination", declaring the entire territory of North Yemen closed to flights, and then the coalition moved on to a ground operation. It was carried out by units of the Yemeni army subordinate to President Hadi, Yemeni militia units together with a ten-thousand-strong military contingent from the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Sudan and Morocco. By the beginning of 2016, the forces of the inter-Arab coalition announced the end of their mission in Yemen, liberating the oil-rich territories of Marib province. But Saudi Arabia continued airstrikes on cities and sites in Houthi-controlled areas, including the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Rockets often hit civilian targets - schools and hospitals, killing children and civilians. The biggest international outcry was the Saudi attack on October 8, 2016, on a building where mourning events were being held with the participation of high-ranking Yemenis, killing more than 200 people, including the governor of Sanaa. According to UN estimates, the number of deaths in Yemen during the armed conflict was more than 10 thousand people.

The armed forces controlled by President Hadi, having lost international support at the beginning of 2016, by inertia continue clashes with the Houthis in the vicinity of the cities of Ibb and Taiz, located between the northern and southern parts of Yemen, but their further advance stopped by the end of the year.

In April 2016, peace negotiations began in Kuwait between representatives of President Hadi’s government, supporters of the Houthis and the General People’s Congress party, led by ex-President Saleh. The negotiations were held through the mediation of the UN special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould al-Shaikh. In accordance with the road map he prepared, the parties were to stop hostilities under the control of international observers, surrender heavy weapons and begin forming a government of popular unity with the participation of conflicting political forces, including the Houthis and ex-President Saleh. President Hadi’s categorical refusal to discuss UN proposals under the pretext that the road map “gives advantages to the Houthi rebels but violates the legitimate rights of the Yemeni people” put an end to the peace process. In October, Kuwaiti authorities announced that they did not intend to further participate in the organization of Yemeni negotiations. The last meeting of the UN special envoy with representatives of the Houthis, held in November in the Omani capital Muscat, finally confirmed the failure of the Ould al-Shaikh mission.

Assuming the failure of peace negotiations, the Houthis began to form their own power structures in the northern part of the country, while President Hadi, who left the Yemeni capital Sanaa back in February 2015 and actually settled in Saudi Arabia, declared the largest South Yemeni city of Aden a “temporary capital”, in which the newly formed government continued to operate. The highest legislative body, the parliament, has resumed its work in Sana'a. The formal quorum was maintained in it due to the fact that the majority of seats - 170 out of 300 in the House of Representatives - belonged to supporters of ex-President Ali Abdallah Saleh and his General People's Congress party. On August 6, 2016, the Houthis announced the creation of the country's main governing body - the Supreme Political Council of 9 members, headed by former presidential adviser Hadi Saleh al-Samad - a supporter of the Houthis. After the final failure of peace talks in Sana'a, a 42-member pro-Houthi Government of National Accord was formed, led by the former governor of Sana'a, Abdelaziz bin Habtoor. Such actions by the Houthis were recognized as illegal in the world and in Arab countries.

Meanwhile, the crisis also affected the oil and gas sector. Since the end of 2015, mining and processing in Hadhramaut, Shabwa and Marib have ceased due to continuous fighting between the army forces subordinate to President Hadi, on the one hand, and the Houthi armed groups allied with Saleh's forces, on the other. The Aden oil refinery shut down. In December 2015, the French company Total S.A. finally left Yemen after 29 years of involvement in the country's oil and gas sector. Even earlier, smaller foreign companies left the Yemeni oil market. In 2016, oil and gas exports from Yemen stopped completely, and oil ports in the provinces of Hadhramaut, Shabwa and Marib stopped operating. The government did not receive any export revenues from the oil and gas sector in 2016. The Arabic television channel Al Jazeera reported in September 2016 about a preliminary agreement with the Swiss company Glencore regarding the sale of 3 million barrels of crude oil. This news caused outrage among the management of the oil refinery in Aden - idle until August 2016, which was promised 1 million barrels to supply Yemen's power plants. In September 2016, for the first time since the outbreak of the civil war, oil production began at only one field in Masila.

By the beginning of 2016, losses from the shutdown of industrial and agricultural enterprises and the collapse of the service sector amounted to more than $7.4 billion. Yemen's main economic problem has been the reduction in domestic food production and increasing dependence on food imports. Domestic production of consumer goods, which even before the start of the war was insufficient to meet domestic needs, was reduced to a minimum; The export of coffee and fish products stopped completely. The share of imported food in the local market increased in 2016 from 80 to 90%. All this was aggravated by the financial and banking crisis.

Although President Hadi declared Aden to be the country's "temporary capital", the parliament and the Central Bank of Yemen, the Central Bank, remained in Yemen's official capital, Sana'a, for a year and a half since the start of the civil war. The activities of the CBY as a financial regulator continued in Sana'a until September 2016 under the leadership of Governor Muhammad bin Humam. The CBY remained the only general Yemen institution that ensured the economic unity of the state. On September 18, 2016, Hadi announced the transfer of the Central Bank to Aden and the appointment of a new manager, who became Finance Minister Munassir al-Quaiti. The latter stated that all the bank's cash reserves were squandered under pressure from the Houthis, who withdrew one million US dollars from the Central Bank every month for military operations, as a result of which foreign exchange reserves, which stood at 4.2 billion US dollars at the beginning of 2015, declined by the end of June 2016 to 1 billion. A significant portion of this balance consisted of KSA's deposit with the CBI, which caused concern on the Saudi side. In his first press statement, which the new governor, al-Quaiti, made at the Yemeni embassy in the KSA capital, Riyadh, he accused the Houthis and the previous governor of completely wasting the state's foreign exchange reserves, and also that the Central Bank of the Bank had delayed the payment of wages - its the monthly volume is $300 million, for August-September to 800 thousand government employees, police and army. The transfer of the CBY from Sana'a to Aden removed the last stone on which the general economic foundation of a united Yemen still rested, and further aggravated the division of the country. Let us recall that until 1990 it was divided into North and South Yemen.

By mid-2016, the threat of a humanitarian catastrophe also became apparent. 80% of the country's population, more than 20 million people, needed emergency care; 14 million people were deprived of adequate food, the number of internally displaced persons exceeded 3 million, and the number of refugees exceeded 300 thousand people. More than 2.5 million Yemenis are left homeless.

The first signs of a humanitarian catastrophe began to appear in the sphere of social security. By the beginning of 2016, out of 3,652 medical institutions, 900 stopped providing their services; vaccination is not carried out, as a result of which 2.6 million children under 15 years of age are at risk of epidemic infection. In the education sector, out of 1,671 schools, 287 were destroyed, 544 were used as shelters for refugees, and 33 were occupied by armed groups. Residential buildings in the main Yemeni cities - Sana'a, Aden, Taiz, Hodeidah, etc. - were subjected to numerous destructions as a result of fighting and airstrikes. Restoration of the housing stock will require about $3.6 billion.

Yemen's economy has deteriorated significantly due to a decline in manufacturing activity in the country. A significant part of the working population was drawn into the armed struggle, foreign companies left the country. The exchange rate of the local currency - the Yemeni rial - against the US dollar has fallen since 2014 from 200 to 250 in mid-2016, and on the black market - to 310. As a result, prices for basic food products - flour, rice, meat products, since almost all of them were imported from abroad. In 2016, of Yemen's 26 million population, 85% were below the poverty line, i.e. had incomes of less than US$1.9 per day per family member.

The situation in Yemen and the attitude of international and inter-Arab organizations towards it shows that in the context of the ceased peace process, the military conflict will become smoldering and will continue in the near future. Yemen's economic recovery will depend on an end to the civil war and foreign military intervention. The problem of preserving a united Yemen, which has existed as one state since 1990, is becoming increasingly acute. Repeated division, no matter how painful it may be, will lead to different vectors of political and economic orientation for each of the newly formed parts. Northern Yemen, which is currently under the rule of the Houthis - Zaydi Shiites, will develop cooperation with Shiite Iran. Despite the lack of direct evidence, Saudi and other Arab media persistently accuse Tehran of supporting the Houthis. Such support, including military and economic, will obviously continue after the end of the conflict and the possible division of the country into two parts. The visits of the Houthi leadership to Moscow did not receive detailed coverage, since negotiations took place only at the level of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation M. Bogdanov, but it is clear that the Russian leadership is cool about the more active involvement of the Russian Federation in the Yemen conflict.

South Yemen will most likely remain under the rule of current President Hadi, who is a protege of the KSA and neighboring Arabian monarchies. Based on this, the economic revival of South Yemen will completely depend on these allies, or rather, overlords. But whatever the outcome, the economic recovery of Yemen will be impossible without international assistance, which will bear fruit only after the establishment of peace and harmony in the long-suffering land of Yemen.

Capital:Sana'a, Aden (former capital of the Democratic Republic of Yemen) has the status of economic capital.

Population: 16.9 million people are mainly Yemenis (Arabs of Yemen).

Language:Arabic, most tourism and trade workers speak English.

Religion:The state religion is Islam. The majority of believers are Muslims (in the south of the country, Sunnism of the Shafi sense is widespread, in the north - Shiism of the Zaydi sense), Judaism, etc.

Geography:The Republic of Yemen is a state in South-West Asia, in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. In the west, the territory of Yemen is washed by the waters of the Red Sea, in the south and east - by the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, in the north it borders with Saudi Arabia, and in the east - with Oman. In the west and central part of the country there are low, highly weathered mountains (the highest point is the city of An-Nabi Shaib - 3600 m). In the East there are stratified hills. Along the coast of the Red Sea is the Tihama Desert. The total area of ​​the country according to the UN is 528 thousand square meters. km. (the border in the north of the country runs through the desert and is not clearly defined). Yemen also owns a number of islands in the Red and Arabian Seas.

Climate:Tropical, dry in most parts of the area. Average temperature fluctuations in January are from +20 C to +25 C, in June from +21 C to +32 C. According to the nature of the climate, the country is divided into several zones: Tihama Desert (where there is an absolute maximum temperature of 45-55 C with relative humidity air up to 98%), the highland region, where the climate is dry continental with sharp changes in day and night temperatures (at night up to -20 C) and relative humidity 10-20%, the Rub al-Khali desert region (less significant temperature changes) and coastal the areas of Aden, Abyan and Hadhramaut, located in the tropical zone with a hot and humid climate. Precipitation ranges from 40 to 1000 mm. in year.

Political state:The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament (House of Representatives). Tribal relations still dominate in Yemen. Sheikhs have almost unlimited power locally. Conflict situations often arise between official authorities and tribes.

CURRENCY Yemeni real. You can exchange currency in almost any bank and store, as well as in numerous private money changers. Most large hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards (mainly American Express, MasterCard and Diners Club), but their use is difficult in the provinces. Traveler's checks are used to a limited extent, although they are becoming increasingly widespread; they are currently accepted for payment in large shopping centers, hotels and on air transport. Tips are up to 10%, although most often the cost of service is already included in the bill; in small private establishments it is necessary to clarify the amount of remuneration for service in each specific case.

Time: In winter it corresponds to Moscow, in summer it lags behind by 1 hour.

Main attractions:Most of the country, due to its climate, is unsuitable for traditional tourism, although lovers of extreme recreation will find a lot of interesting things here - from racing through the desert on jeeps and camels and conquering the low but beautiful local mountains, to sand slalom and searching for numerous, as they say chronicles, but covered with desert medieval settlements. In the capital, you should definitely visit the University, known since the 1st century, and the Palace of the Sultans in the traditional oriental style. To the northeast of the capital lie the ruins of the ancient city of Main, one of the most mysterious in the region - there is still debate about its builders and their origin. Numerous excavations of the ancient civilizations of Hadhramaut, Saba and the Himyarite kingdom are also interesting. Yemen's handicraft workshops are famous for their metal utensils, weapons, silver and gold work, and excellent coinage. There are numerous mosques scattered throughout the country (Shibam, Taiz, Jibla), many of which are hundreds of years old. In Shibam there is a unique architectural complex - “clay skyscrapers”. These are clearly the first buildings of this type in the world, numbering 10-11 floors, white and yellow, made in the 19th century. only from baked clay without additional binding elements. In the Gulf of Kamar and in the area of ​​​​Kusayir, Turba and about. Kamaran has picturesque coral reefs, the dream of any diver, but considered quite difficult and dangerous for diving due to the peculiarities of local currents. Also of particular interest from the point of view of underwater archeology is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (“Gate of Tears”), at the bottom of which rest thousands of ships of all times and peoples that crashed on the reefs.

Entry rules: Visa regime, the minimum period for obtaining a visa is from 1 to 3 days. Documents required to obtain an entry visa: 3 photographs, 3 questionnaires (in Russian, English or Arabic, passport data in the original language), passport, invitation (if available), registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Yemen, medical certificate for traveling abroad (for leaving for work). To obtain a transit visa, you must have visas from neighboring countries in your passport. The entry visa is valid for 30 days from the date of issue at the consulate. Stay in the country is not limited. Tourist trips are only for groups of at least 6 people. Consular fee for citizens of Russia - $50, for citizens of Ukraine - $150, for citizens of other CIS countries - $60. Discounts for children who have their own passport - 50%. Children included in their parents' passports enter the country without paying a consular fee. When crossing the border, you must present a passport with an entry visa and an immigration service card completed in Arabic or English, which indicates: full name, date and place of birth, nationality, profession, passport number, date and place of issue, purpose arrival in Yemen, entry visa number. For foreigners arriving in Yemen on general passports for a period of more than one month, an HIV test certificate is required (only certificates obtained from the Central Blood Bank of Yemen will be accepted).

Customs regulations:The import, export and exchange of national and foreign currency is not limited. A bank document indicating the source of origin of the currency is required if the amount exceeding 10 thousand US dollars is exported. Duty-free import of cigarettes is allowed - 200 pcs., alcoholic beverages - 2 bottles, food products - within the limits necessary for personal consumption. The import of gold bullion, printed and video products with erotic content without the permission of the country's bank is prohibited. When exporting, weapons, antiques and art, items made of gold and precious metals are subject to mandatory customs control.

The content of the article

YEMEN, The Republic of Yemen (Al-Jumhuriya al-Yamania), a state in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula, was formed on May 22, 1990 as a result of the unification of the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR, or North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY, or South Yemen ). It borders on the north with Saudi Arabia and on the east with Oman. In the south, Yemen is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, in the west by the Red Sea (some sections of the border are still not clearly defined). Yemen also owns the islands of Kamaran in the Red Sea, Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Socotra in the Gulf of Aden. In addition, Yemen lays claim to the Kuria Muria Islands, located off the coast of Oman. In 1854, Oman ceded these islands to Great Britain, which in 1937 included them in its colony of Aden, and in 1967 returned them to Oman. The area of ​​Yemen is 527.9 thousand square meters. km. The capital is Sana'a.

The name of the country “al-yaman” can be translated from Arabic as “right side” or “happiness”, “prosperity”. Yemen occupies most of the territory that the ancient Romans called "Arabia Felix" ("Happy Arabia").

STATE STRUCTURE

Until 1962, North Yemen was an absolute theocratic monarchy led by an imam from the Zaydi Shia community, both the spiritual leader of Muslim Yemenis and the secular head of state. Several Yemeni reform movements operated largely in exile, and included not only Shafi'i Sunnis but also privileged Zaydis. In 1962, reformers, during the anti-monarchist revolution, abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR). The civil war between them and supporters of the monarchy continued until April 1970, when the republican authorities gave the former monarchists several seats in the government. The constitution, adopted in 1970, was suspended after a military coup in 1974. After the assassination of two Yemeni leaders, Ibrahim al-Hamdi and Ahmad al-Gashimi, in 1977 and 1978, the new president of the YAR, Lieutenant Colonel Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced the upcoming convening of the General People's Congress ( VNK). However, the first elections to the Consultative Council were held only in 1988, at which time all political parties were banned, and among the candidates there was not a single opponent of the Saleh regime. Nevertheless, Saleh enjoyed broad popular support, and the GNC transformed into a kind of political organization.

In 1967, the independent People's Republic of South Yemen (PRYY) was proclaimed, which included the British colony of Aden and more than 30 small principalities that were under British protectorate. In 1970, this state received the name of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY). In 1978, after a bloody coup led by Abdel Fattah Ismail, the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) was created and close ideological and military ties were established with the USSR. At the beginning of 1986, a civil war began in the PDRY, caused by the personal ambitions of the leaders, clan contradictions among them, as well as friction between hardliners led by Ismail and the more pragmatic Ali Nasser Muhammad, who replaced Ismail as head of state in 1980. After the end of the war Ali Salem al-Beid became the de facto leader of the new ruling elite and the new General Secretary of the YSP Central Committee. By 1990, Marxist-Leninist ideology was finally abandoned, which made unification with the YAR possible.

Yemen is a unitary presidential republic. The current constitution was adopted on May 16, 1991. Significant changes to the Basic Law were made in 1994 and 2001. According to the constitution, power vested in the people is the source of all powers. “The people exercise their power directly through referendums and general elections, indirectly through legislative, executive and judicial bodies, and through elected local councils.”

Executive branch

carried out by the President and the Council of Ministers. Before the constitutional reform of 1994, the unified state was headed by the Presidential Council, consisting of 5 members. He was elected for a five-year term by the legislature. From among its members, the Presidential Council elected a chairman and his deputy, and also appointed a prime minister.

In accordance with the constitutional amendments of 1994, the Presidential Council was abolished. The head of state is the president, elected by universal direct and secret ballot for a seven-year term (since 2001) with the right of second re-election. The President is also the Commander-in-Chief, appoints the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and his Deputy, and forms the National Defense Council and the Advisory Council. The President has the right to set the date for new parliamentary elections and announce a referendum on any issue; to promulgate and publish the laws passed by the House of Representatives, and issue decrees for their execution; declare a state of emergency and general mobilization; appoint and remove senior government officials and senior military and police officers. If parliament needs to be dissolved, the president has the constitutional right to govern the country through decrees. However, after resuming its work, parliament has the right to cancel previously issued presidential decrees.

The President of the Republic and two-thirds of the House of Representatives have the right to propose amendments to one or more articles of the constitution. If the proposal is rejected, the next proposal to amend the same articles may not be made until after the expiration of one year. If three quarters of the House are in favor of the amendment, the issue is put to a general referendum. If an absolute majority of voters supports the amendment, it is considered acceptable.

The president can be charged with treason, violating the constitution, or "any other act that threatens the independence and sovereignty of the country." This accusation is made by half of the members of the House of Representatives. To bring the president to trial, the support of 2/3 of the parliamentary majority is required.

Since May 22, 1990, Ali Abdallah Saleh has been president, elected to this post on September 23, 1999; Vice President - Major General Abd al-Rab Mansour al-Hadi (since October 3, 1994).

Council of Ministers represents the highest executive and administrative power in the state. All administrative bodies, agencies and corporations are under his leadership. The composition of the cabinet (37 ministers) is appointed by the prime minister after consultation with the president. The current Prime Minister is Abd al-Qadir Abd al-Rahman Bajammal (since April 4, 2001).

The Council of Ministers prepares draft national economic development plans and annual budgets, organizes their implementation, and prepares a report on their implementation; prepares draft laws and submits them to the House of Representatives or the President; directs the activities of ministries and other bodies.

Legislature.

Sharia is the main source of legislation. According to constitutional amendments adopted on February 20, 2001, the legislative body is National Assembly, which consists of two chambers - Advisory Board(al-Majlis ash-shura) and House of Representatives(Majlis al-Nuvwab).

Upper House – Advisory Board- Performs only advisory functions. New amendments to the constitution expand the powers of the Advisory Council, increasing its number from 59 to 111 and giving it the right, together with parliament, to discuss candidates for the presidency. The Advisory Council is formed by presidential decree and includes experienced and qualified specialists "in order to expand the basis of citizen participation in decision-making through consultation, using the method of national expertise and knowledge obtained in various regions of Yemen."

Legislative power is exercised House of Representatives. It consists of 301 deputies who are elected through free, equal, direct suffrage for a term of 6 years. From among its members, the House of Representatives elects a chairman and three deputies, who form the Presidium. The current chairman of the lower house of parliament is Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar.

The House of Representatives passes laws, approves the general state policy and plan for socio-economic development, approves the state budget and the report on its implementation, directs and evaluates the activities of the executive branch. Decisions are taken by an absolute majority of the deputies present, except in cases where the constitution or instructions of the House require a specific majority. All laws are published in the Official Gazette within two weeks of adoption. They come into force within 30 days from the date of their publication. This period may be shortened or extended in accordance with the law.

The President has the right to request a review of any bill approved by the House of Representatives. In this case, he must return the bill to the House within 30 days from the date of its presentation. If he does not return the bill to the House within this period, or if the bill is re-passed by a majority of the House, it becomes law and is confirmed by the President within two weeks. If the President does not approve of the law, it is enacted on the basis of the constitution and, being published in the Official Gazette, comes into force after two weeks.

The Constitution gives the President of the Republic the power to dissolve Parliament, although Parliament cannot be dissolved twice for the same reason. According to the current constitution, the president can directly call new parliamentary elections.

Judicial system

based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English customary law and local tribal law. The Constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary, which is headed by the Supreme Judicial Council.

The judicial system is organized at three levels. Each district has courts of first instance. They can hear all cases of a civil, criminal, commercial and family nature. Their decisions can be appealed to the courts of appeal operating in each province and capital.

The highest judicial body of the republic is the Supreme Court, located in Sana'a. It determines the constitutionality of adopted laws and regulations, makes a final decision on reviewed cases, and considers cases against the president of the republic, vice president, prime minister and other high officials.

There are also courts of special jurisdiction: military tribunals; kidnapping and terrorism courts; for juvenile affairs; courts for the settlement of tax, customs and labor disputes. The functions of these courts and tribunals are similar to those of the trial courts; their decisions can be appealed to the appellate courts.

The tribal court system also remains in place for non-criminal cases, although in practice tribal “judges” often hear criminal cases as well.

Local authority.

Yemen consists of 20 governorates, which in turn are divided into 326 districts. Each governorate is headed by a governor, approved by the president. He has the highest executive power in the region. In his activities, the governor relies on the provincial council, elected through general and free elections.

In the municipal elections held in February 2001, there were 26,832 candidates vying for 6,614 district council seats and more than 2,500 candidates vying for 418 provincial council seats. The term of office of local authorities is two years. In total, 20 provincial and 326 district councils have been formed in the country.

Political parties.

The first political parties emerged in the 1930s. In South Yemen, after the Marxists came to power in 1967, a one-party system was gradually established. In North Yemen, the activities of all political parties were also banned. Only after the unification of the country in 1990, many parties were able to come out of hiding and resume free activity. According to the Law on Political Parties (1991), it is prohibited to create parties on a regional, religious, professional, tribal, gender, sectarian or racial basis. By the beginning of the 21st century. 46 parties were registered in the country, but their influence remains rather weak. Participation of parties in electoral processes is decreasing. If 21 parties participated in the parliamentary elections in 1993, then in 1997 only 12 parties nominated their candidates. Three parties enjoy the greatest influence among Yemenis: the General People's Congress, the Islamic Union for Reform and the Yemeni Socialist Party.

General People's Congress(VNK) is the ruling party, the only legal political structure in North Yemen before the unification of the country. The VNC was first convened in August 1982 as an advisory body, whose members represented all administrative regions of the country. For many years, Congress did not have any real powers. The formation of a political party began only in 1990. The organization included almost all the heads of central and local authorities in the north of the country, as well as many civil servants and tribal leaders loyal to the president.

Due to the peculiarities of the management system, the party is an amorphous association of a large number of people interested primarily in their own well-being, and therefore still does not have a clear political program. In its manifestos, the VNK proclaims its commitment to the principles of the September Revolution of 1962, the constitution, the values ​​of Islam and patriotism. As a conservative party, it advocates national unity, sovereignty, democracy, secularism and public order. In the economic sphere, it is the only force that fully supports the neoliberal policies of the president and government.

The Congress primarily reflects the interests of civil servants and bureaucrats, part of the tribal nobility, as well as the military and large entrepreneurs. Local government leaders who are party members often act as defenders of local interests, which ensures stable support for the party in elections, but does not contribute to the unity of the country. In the parliamentary elections in 2003, the VNK received 58% of the votes and 226 seats (in 1993 - 29% of the votes and 120 seats, including 3 in the south, in 1997 - 43.2% and 187 seats, including 27 in the south). The chairman of the party is Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Islamic Association for Reform(al-Islah) is a religious and political movement of a fundamentalist persuasion. Created in September 1990, uniting tribal groups and religious circles in North Yemen. Before the unification of the country, many al-Islah activists were part of the Muslim Brotherhood. The party is led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar, leader of the Zaydi Hashid tribal confederation and chairman of the House of Representatives.

Al-Islah proclaims itself a conservative party of traditional Islamic values. His program reflects the idea that Islam should regulate all social, economic and political life in the country. He advocates the creation of a “caliphate” on the principles of social justice, the abolition of the constitution and secular legislation, the introduction of Sharia law and the expansion of religious education. Instead of the Western model of multi-party democracy, it calls for the creation of an Islamic consultative democracy, or al-Shura. The party enjoys the support of influential circles in Saudi Arabia.

The association mainly reflects the interests of northern tribal groups and religious circles in the cities. In the parliamentary elections in 2003 it received 22.5% of the votes and 46 seats (in 1993 - 17.4% and 63 seats, in 1997 - 23.4% and 53 seats). Although al-Islah acts as an opposition party, on many issues it supports the main policies of President Saleh.

Yemen Socialist Party(YSP) - former pro-Soviet, founded in 1978 on the basis of the United political organization National Front, which arose in 1975 as a result of the merger of three left-wing parties. According to the party program, its ideological and political platform was scientific socialism. After the cessation of economic assistance from the USSR and the unification of the country, it announced a renunciation of its Marxist past and chose the social democratic doctrine as a new ideological platform. Politically, the YSP proclaims its commitment to the ideals of unity, democracy, social justice and modernization. She advocates a free market economy and selective liberalization, government regulation in certain sectors of the economy and the creation of a social protection system that can ease the consequences of economic transformation.

In the parliamentary elections in 1993, the socialists received 18.9% of the vote and 56 seats in the House of Representatives. In 1994, the party leadership led the movement for the secession of South Yemen. After the end of the civil war, a meeting of the YSP Politburo was held in Damascus in August 1994, which adopted a resolution recognizing that the declaration of independence was a mistake. In September 1994, the YSP Central Committee, at its meeting in Sana'a, elected Ali Saleh Obeid Muqbel as the new general secretary and removed Al-Beida and other prominent members who supported independence and secession from the party's ranks. The party proposed a program of political reforms aimed at national reconciliation, the construction of a modern legal and democratic state and the fight against corruption. However, faced with pressure from the government and Islamist forces, the YSP Central Committee decided in March 1997 to boycott the general elections, which led to the loss of all seats in parliament and the inability to participate in the presidential elections.

It was finally legalized only in 2000, but socialists are still prohibited from holding positions in the state apparatus and the army. Basically, the party relies on the South Yemen intelligentsia and working people. In the general parliamentary elections in 2003, she won 4.69% of the vote and 7 seats in the House of Representatives.

League of the Sons of Yemen- one of the oldest political parties in the country, was created in April 1951 in Aden as the League of the Sons of South Arabia. Until the unification of Yemen, it operated underground. It views itself as a moderate Islamic movement advocating democratic reforms, strengthening the institutions of the judiciary and developing a system of local self-government. In the socio-economic field, she opposes forced liberalization, for the creation of an accessible healthcare and education system, and the expansion of women's rights. Boycotted the 1997 parliamentary elections.

Nasserist People's Unionist Organization– created in December 1965 by followers of former Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. Declares commitment to the ideas of Arab socialism, democracy and nationalism. The unity of Yemen is seen as a stage on the path to the unification of all Arab states into one. Since 1972, the party's activities in South Yemen have been banned. In the North, the Nasserists enjoyed the support of President Ibrahim al-Hamdi (1974–1977), but after his assassination and the failed coup attempt against President Saleh (1978), most of the party's leaders were arrested and executed. It resumed its legal activities in 1989. It relies mainly on the educated segments of the population - teachers, students and workers. In the parliamentary elections in 2003, she received 1.85% of the vote and 3 seats (in 1993 - 2.37% and 1 place, in 1997 - 2.1% and 3 seats). Chairman – Abdul-Malik al-Mikhlafi.

National Democratic Front(NDF) - founded in March 1976 in North Yemen as a military-political association of left-wing Republicans and other opposition forces (Ba'athists, Marxists, Nasserists, tribal leaders - supporters of former President al-Hamdi, etc.) dissatisfied with the government's rapprochement policies with Saudi Arabia. Supported by NDRY. The main goal was to unite Yemen, reduce tribal influence on political life, carry out agrarian reforms and follow a policy of non-alignment. Thanks to the support of the PDRY, he managed to gain a foothold in the south of the country, where in 1978 an armed uprising began, the main force of which was the NDF detachments. After signing the ceasefire agreement (1980), he received the right to a semi-legal existence. It was planned to create a government of national unity, which would include representatives of various North Yemeni forces, including the NDF, and carry out a number of reforms. However, this government promise was not realized, and in 1982 the NDF again rebelled, which was quickly suppressed. After the unification of the country, the Front was transformed into a legal political party, which participated in the parliamentary elections of 1993, 1997 and 2003.

Arab Socialist Renaissance Party(Baath) is the Yemeni branch of the pan-Arab Baath Party, focusing on the Syrian Baath. The first Ba'athist groups in Yemen were formed in 1955–1956. The party takes the position of pan-Arab nationalism, advocating the unification of all Arab states. Despite their active participation in the September Revolution of 1962 and in the struggle for independence of South Yemen, the political influence of the Baathists has always remained limited. All R. In the 1970s, the party practically disappeared from the political arena, but small Baathist circles continued to operate illegally until the unification of the country. In the parliamentary elections in 1993 it received 3.7% of the vote and 7 seats. After the civil war (1994), the party split into pro-Syrian and pro-Iraq factions. In the 2003 elections, she received 0.68% of the vote and 2 seats in the House of Representatives (in 1997 - 0.75% and 2 seats). The leader is Abdul Wahab Mahmud.

Party of Truth(Hezb al-Haq) is the second largest Islamist party in the country, created in 1990 by a group of religious scholars. Unlike other Islamist groups, it takes moderate positions and declares support for parliamentary democracy, political pluralism and civil institutions. In the economic field, he advocates market reforms, the rejection of monopolism, skillful management of financial resources and the fight against corruption. In the parliamentary elections in 1993, she received 0.85% of the vote and 2 seats. Participated in parliamentary elections in 1997 and 2003.

In addition to the main parties, there are a number of smaller political associations operating in the country

From public organizations acted General Federation of Yemen Trade Unions, uniting 14 unions and numbering about 350 thousand members. She denies any ties to official authorities, although she works closely with the government to resolve labor disputes.

Foreign policy.

The PDRY maintained close relations with the USSR, which especially strengthened after 1978. During the reign of Ali Nasser Muhammad, diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia were restored (1983). The normalization of relations with Iraq, Oman, Egypt, and then Western countries occurred only after the civil war of 1986. With the end of the Cold War, the USSR ceased to play any significant role in the affairs of the PDRY. In October 1987, a border conflict occurred between the PDRY and Oman, which was fully resolved only in May 1997, after the withdrawal of Omani troops and the agreement of both parties to demarcate the border with the participation of representatives of international organizations. In 1990, diplomatic relations with the United States, broken in 1970, were restored. The YAR, being a non-aligned state, concluded a Treaty of Friendship with the USSR in 1964 and extended it in 1984. It also maintained friendly relations with Western countries. In 1989, the YAR, together with Iraq, Egypt and Jordan, joined the Arab Cooperation Council. Like other Arab countries, the YAR supported Iraq in the war with Iran in 1980–1988.

In November 1987, the YAR restored diplomatic relations with Egypt, followed by the PDRY in February 1988; these relations were severed in 1979 after the signing of the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt.

Until 1990, relations between YAR and Saudi Arabia remained tense: Yemen accused the Saudis of trying to prevent the unification of the North and South by supporting tribal associations opposed to the government. The Yemeni government condemned Iraq's invasion of Kuwait (1990), but opposed the use of military force and did not approve of economic sanctions against Iraq. In response, Saudi Arabia expelled Yemeni workers from its territory, and the United States almost stopped aid to Yemen.

In November 1995, Eritrean armed forces captured the island. El Hanish el Kabir in the Red Sea. After the failure of the mediation mission of Egypt and Ethiopia, France took on the role of mediator, announcing in May 1996 that Yemen and the Eritrean separatists accepted a possible settlement of their territorial dispute in an international court.

After unification, relations between Yemen and Saudi Arabia became strained due to disputes over the Saudi-Yemen border. In 1994 and 1995, clashes took place in the north and northeast of Yemen near the city of Maarib, and in 1996 in the Red Sea area. The border dispute with Saudi Arabia, which was accompanied by armed clashes, was partially resolved in February 1995 with the adoption of a memorandum of understanding. In July 1996, the countries signed a bilateral security agreement. In 1997, 200 thousand Yemeni workers expelled in 1990 were able to return to Saudi Arabia. However, after the signing of the agreement, relations between them deteriorated again.

Since November 1997, clashes have resumed in the Maarib area, where the American company Hunt Oil has been conducting oil exploration for several years. Saudi Arabia insisted on rights to the territory and also demanded a 100-kilometer corridor to gain access to the Indian Ocean. At the same time, clashes took place over the island of El Duwain.

In 1999, the Yemeni government attempted to improve relations with Saudi Arabia. In July 1999, territorial disputes around the island of El Duwain were resolved. In June 2000, a land and sea border agreement was signed, ending a dispute that had lasted since the 1930s. The agreement established a border of 200 km. Saudi Arabia abandoned its claims to Hadhramaut. At the same time, the issue of two small areas remained unresolved: Jebel Atid east of Maarib in the northern part of the oil-bearing Shabwa region and in the west near the Red Sea coast. To prevent further clashes, a 20 km demilitarized strip was created along the border, declared zone of cooperation and development. Nomadic tribes living in the border area received the right to unhindered grazing of livestock and freedom from customs duties. At the beginning of 2001, both states began to implement the agreement.

In the same 2000, the border with Oman was established. Relations with Israel and the Gulf states improved, and the Kuwaiti embassy was reopened in Sana'a.

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has made efforts to expand the country's international relations, incl. with the European Union and Great Britain. In February 1998, he visited China, with which he concluded an agreement on economic and technical cooperation. Yemen occupies the seat formerly held by the YAR in the Arab League and is a member of the UN. The intensification of Russian-Yemeni relations began in the late 90s. In December 2002, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh visited Russia and was received by Russian President Putin. One of the topics of the negotiations was the expansion of bilateral military-technical cooperation. In June 2004, the president visited Moscow again. The approaches of the two countries on a wide range of international issues and regional problems are close or coincide.

Armed forces

consist of the Army, Air Force and Navy. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief is the President of the country; Direct leadership of the army is exercised by the General Staff. The army is recruited on the basis of universal conscription, the officers are on a voluntary basis. The total number of armed forces (2001) is about 54 thousand people. The ground forces number 49 thousand people. and consist of 51 brigades. The Air Force (3.5 thousand) has 71 combat aircraft and 8 combat helicopters, the Navy (1.5 thousand) has 10 warships (mainly patrol, torpedo and landing boats). There are also paramilitary forces numbering 80 thousand people. These include internal security forces, police and tribal militias. Before unification, most of the PDRY's weapons came from the USSR. Today, weapons are purchased in France and the USA. Military spending in 2001 exceeded $550 million.

ECONOMY

According to the UN classification, Yemen is one of the least economically developed countries in the world. According to official data, almost a third of the population lives below the poverty line (1999).

Oil and gas production, which began in both parts of Yemen in the late 1980s, has contributed to a marked improvement in economic performance and the standard of living of the population. However, Yemen still remains heavily dependent on foreign aid. Remittances from Yemenis working in exile, particularly in Saudi Arabia, amounted to $1 billion a year in the late 1980s. The suspension of payments in 1990 caused serious damage to the country's economy. The period of political instability and civil war that followed virtually paralyzed economic life. The Yemeni rial was devalued. The total amount of damage caused to the economy by military operations alone in 1994 is estimated at $6.5–11 billion.

The government's economic policy is aimed at restructuring the economy, priority development of the oil and gas industry, increasing agricultural production, creating free economic zones and attracting foreign capital to the country. However, solving these problems is complicated by high rates of population growth and internal political contradictions.

Currently, the basis of the economy is the oil industry. In 1995, the share of fuels and lubricants in the country's exports amounted to 84%. Agriculture is modernizing slowly. The main cash crops are cotton, coffee and fruits. Sorghum, potatoes, wheat and barley are grown for domestic consumption. Livestock farming and fishing are also important.

National income.

Yemen's gross national product (GNP) in 1996 was $6.02 billion in 1994–1996 prices, or $380 per capita (according to the World Bank). In 2002, this figure was estimated at $15.07 billion, or $778 per capita. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth increased from 2.8% in 1990–1995 to 3.0% in 1996 and 4.1% in 2002.

The contribution of various industries to Yemen's GDP in 1995 was: agriculture, forestry and fishing - 14.7%, service sector - 46.5%, mining and manufacturing, construction and energy 38.8%. In 2001, agriculture provided 22% of GDP, industry - 38%, and the service sector - 40%.

Labor resources.

In 1986, the YAR labor force was 1.6 million people, excluding Yemeni emigrant workers. In the PDRY, the economically active population was 435 thousand people (1988), of which 11.7% were unemployed. 52% were employed in agriculture, 14% in industry, and 21% in the service sector.

Yemen is predominantly an agricultural country. In 1990, more than 61% of the population was employed in agriculture and fishing, and approx. in the service sector. 22%, in industry – 17%. According to various estimates, the unemployment rate ranges from 18 to 35%.

Extractive industry.

The main place in the extraction of natural resources belongs to the oil industry. Oil exploration in Yemen began in 1938. In 1972, an oil field was discovered in Tihama. In 1981, the American oil corporation Hunt Oil Company received a concession to develop oil fields, which began in 1984 in the Marib al-Jawf basin, in the southeast of the country. In 1987, the PDRY announced the discovery of commercial oil fields in the Shabwa region, 200 km east of Marib. In 1991, the Soviet association Technoexport built a 190-kilometer oil pipeline to the city of Bir Ali on the coast of the Gulf of Aden. In 1991, oil was also discovered in the province of Hadhramaut (Masila). In 1993, a Western consortium began exporting oil from the area; in 1999, oil production in Masila reached 420 thousand barrels/day.

The governments of the YAR and the PDRY established a joint oil production company in 1988 (the Yemen State Oil and Gas Company), which partly contributed to and partly resulted from the rapprochement between Aden and Sana'a. Currently, there are 23 oil companies operating in the country, including American, British, Indonesian, Italian, Canadian, Malaysian, Russian, French, and Gulf countries.

Proven oil reserves are estimated at 3.2 billion barrels (2001). In 1990, oil production was 5.4 million tons, in 1995 - approx. 11 million tons, in 1997 – 19 million tons per year. Daily oil production in 2001 reached 438.5 thousand barrels. New oil fields have been discovered in Yemen. According to preliminary estimates, the volume of discovered reserves may reach 390 million barrels. Currently (June 2004) about 450 thousand barrels are produced per day.

The largest industrial enterprise in the country is the Aden Oil Refinery, built by the British Petroleum Company in 1954. The capacity of the Aden Oil Refinery is approx. 5 million tons per year, but with the commissioning of two new oil storage facilities (25 thousand tons each), processing should increase. In 1986, an oil refinery was built in Marib, and in 1987 an oil pipeline (440 km) to the Red Sea coast was built. In the first half of the 1990s, the capacity of the Aden and Marib oil refineries (9 million tons/year) was used at approximately 50% due to the consequences of the conflict in the Persian Gulf and hostilities in Yemen. It is planned to build additional oil refineries in Mukalla, Shahr and Maarib, the Safir-Shabwa oil pipeline for oil exports and a number of other projects.

The production of natural gas, whose reserves are estimated at 480 billion cubic meters, could become very promising for Yemen. m. The government encourages investment by transnational companies in gas exploration. It is planned to build gas storage facilities, gas pipelines for domestic and industrial needs, as well as export supplies. According to an agreement signed in September 1995, the leading company in the project to develop natural gas fields is the French Total. In January 1997, a number of agreements were signed with Hunt Oil, Exxon and Yukon. Negotiations are underway with the Hunt company to begin developing natural gas fields in Maarib with the aim of supplying it for export. The volume of liquefied gas production is expected to be 3.1 million tons per year.

Other minerals produced include table salt, gypsum, limestone and marble. In 1994, 280 thousand tons of salt and 80 thousand tons of gypsum were produced. There are also explored deposits of sandstone, deposits of iron, coal, quartz, sulfur, zinc, gold, silver, lead, copper, nickel, titanium and uranium.

Manufacturing industry.

The main industries are oil refining, construction, food processing, textiles, and cotton ginning. Small enterprises predominate. The largest industrial enterprises are mainly state-owned or joint-stock companies with mixed capital.

The construction materials industry is developing most dynamically. The food industry, which operates mostly on imported raw materials, is the second industry in terms of production volume, second only to the cement industry. It is represented by enterprises producing dairy products, soft drinks, vegetable oil, table salt, and bakery products. There are coffee processing plants. In the cities there are small light industry enterprises, incl. cotton ginning and tanning factories, clothing and shoe factories. Mechanical engineering is mainly represented by repair shops and enterprises producing household items. The possibilities of developing a ship repair industry, represented by a plant in Aden and small ship repair shops, are currently being explored. There are small enterprises producing paints and varnishes, plastics, insect control substances, etc.

A significant role in industry is occupied by the handicraft production of fabrics, shoes, weaving, leather dressing and the manufacture of handicrafts (weapons, jewelry, dishes, etc.).

Energy.

Power plants running exclusively on fossil fuels generate 3 billion kWh of electricity per year (2001). The largest of them are located near Hodeidah, in Ras Kanatib (165 MW), and in Mukala (160 MW). It is planned to build new power plants and expand the capacity of existing ones. Currently, less than a third of Yemeni households have access to electricity.

Agriculture and fishing.

The territory of the former YAR contains the most fertile lands of the Arabian Peninsula. About a quarter of the country's total area is suitable for agriculture. Arable lands occupy 1.5 million hectares (about 2.75% of the area). Terrace farming in the mountains of Yemen, where cereals and coffee are traditionally grown, has a long tradition. Livestock farming plays an important role in the western foothills.

The main agricultural areas in the northern part of the country are Jebel, where rainfed agriculture is developed on terraced slopes, and Tihama, where irrigated agriculture predominates. The main grain crops are sorghum, millet, wheat, barley and corn. The production of fruits and vegetables is increasing. High-quality coffee is grown on the mountain slopes, the harvest of which in 1989 amounted to 5 thousand tons. Viticulture is developed. The most important crop is cotton. Sesame and dates are also grown here. Despite government opposition, plantings of khat (Catha edulis), a mild narcotic, are expanding.

In the territory of the former PDRY, less than 1% of the country's area (100 thousand hectares) is suitable for agriculture. Oasis agriculture predominates here. About 40% of this land is in Abyan province, where mainly cotton and sorghum are grown. The main date production is concentrated in the Hadhramaut wadi, where millet, wheat and barley also grow. In addition, khat, sesame, tobacco and coffee are produced here. In the 1980s, as a result of agrarian reform, state farms were created (10% of agricultural land), but cooperatives (70%) and personal peasant farms (20%) remained.

Economic crises, the 1994 civil war and rapid population growth have meant that the country is no longer able to provide itself with food. Up to 70% of consumed food products are imported. Land previously used for cereals and coffee has now been converted to khat production.

In both parts of Yemen, livestock and poultry farming are important. They mainly raise sheep, goats, cattle, camels and chickens.

Transhumance cattle breeding is practiced in the mountains, and nomadic cattle breeding is practiced in the deserts.

The traditional industry is fishing, which supplies food and is one of the main sources of foreign exchange earnings. The average annual fish catch in the waters of the former YAR is estimated at 30 thousand tons. The annual fish catch in the former PDRY in the late 1980s averaged 51 thousand tons. After the unification, seafood production increased, amounting to 123 thousand tons in 1999. Main fishery carried out in the Arabian and Red Seas. A significant part of the catch is exported. Pearl fishing is also carried out in the Red Sea.

Transport.

There are no railways. The leading place in domestic transportation is occupied by road transport. The main roads in the north: Aden - Taiz - Hodeidah, Sana'a - Hodeidah, Sana'a - Taiz - Mokha; in the south: Aden - El-Mukalla - Ash-Shihr, Shakra - Tarim, Ash-Shihr - Tarim. The total length of roads in 1999 was 69,263 km, of which 9,963 km were paved.

Oil pipelines (1,174 km) and gas pipelines (88 km) are laid from fields in the center of the country to ports on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (2003). There is a small merchant fleet. The main seaports are Aden and Mukalla in the south, Hodeidah, Salif and Moha in the north.

Aden is an important air traffic hub. Other main airports are located in Sana'a and Al Mukalla. The national airline is Yamenia.

Foreign economic relations and public finances.

The deficits in foreign trade and public finances of both the YAR and the PDRY were compensated by foreign loans and aid, as well as remittances from Yemenis working abroad. In 1988, exports from the YAR increased 10 times, reaching $450 million. At the same time, remittances from abroad amounted in 1989 to only one quarter of their maximum level of $1.2 billion reached in 1983, and their volumes continued to fall. The current trade balance has been in deficit since 1979; in 1989, the deficit was $579 million. In the PDRY, the foreign trade deficit was somewhat smaller due to the export of petroleum products produced at the Aden refinery, as well as the export of fish and cotton. However, the current trade balance has been in constant deficit since independence in 1967. In 1989 the deficit was $417 million.

The country's financial situation worsened due to the Gulf crisis (1991), during which the leadership of the Republic of Yemen took a pro-Iraqi position. About 1 million Yemenis were expelled from Saudi Arabia, whose remittances accounted for a significant portion of foreign exchange earnings. There has been a significant reduction in aid from Western countries and Saudi Arabia. Yemen's balance of payments deficit in 1990–1993 was $3.1 billion, and inflation in the first half of 1992 reached 50%. After the civil war, inflation rose to 100% in 1995. Real income per capita in 1993 fell by 10% compared to 1989, with unemployment exceeding 25%. To resolve the crisis, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund recommended a series of strict measures in the 1990s, including the elimination of subsidies for oil, domestic gas and electricity. The adoption of these measures led to increases in the prices of basic foodstuffs and oil, which led to protests, sometimes violent, in 1993, 1995 and the summer of 1998. State revenues in 1995, excluding foreign financial support, amounted to approx. 90 billion rials, expenses - approx. 112 billion rials. Yemen's total external debt in 2002 was $6.2 billion, or 155% of GNP. In October 2002, international donors agreed to allocate an additional package of economic assistance to Yemen in the amount of $2.3 billion.

Exports in 2002 amounted to $3.4 billion. The main export items are oil, coffee beans, fish, leather raw materials, and cotton. Main partners - India (21.1%), Thailand (16.9%), China (11.1%), Republic of Korea (11.2%), Malaysia (7.7%), USA (6.7% ) and Singapore (4%). The country imports food and livestock, machinery and equipment. The volume of imports in 2002 was $2.9 billion. Most of the imports came to Yemen from the USA (10.4%), Saudi Arabia (9.5%), China (8.7%), UAE (6.9% ), Russia (5.8%) and France (4.7%) (2002).

In 1991, the two former central banks of YAR and PDRY were merged into one, located in Aden. The Yemen Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Sana'a also plays an important role in the country's economic development.

The currency is Yemeni rial = 10 fils.

SOCIETY

Much of Yemeni society remains committed to traditional tribal organization and customs, as well as religious traditions. The largest tribal confederations are the Hashib and the Bakil. The central government has never been able to assert its authority over some areas controlled by tribal groups. Most men carry curved daggers (jambiya), and many carry firearms.

In the north, especially in the big cities, women are still largely excluded from public life. In rural areas, such norms are less common. Tihama has a strong African influence, with women wearing more revealing clothing and leading a relatively free lifestyle. In the south, especially in Aden, women moved closer to social and political equality with men by the time of unification. The unification agreement guaranteed these achievements and declared their expansion to the rest of the country. However, as a result of the rapid Islamization of public life, many social gains were lost. Today, women in many areas are again unable to go out on the streets without a veil, and the marriage contract for a woman is signed by her guardian.

Rich traditions of musical folklore are preserved. Traditional musical instruments are the aud (lute), the two-stringed rababa, the mizmar (flute) and the shababa (pipe). The most famous Yemeni traditional music performers, Ahmed Fasei and Osama al-Attar, live in the United Arab Emirates.

Yemen is home to some remarkable architectural structures from the Islamic era. Attractions include adobe buildings in Sana'a, Hajjah and Shibam. Cone-shaped structures made from local wood are built in Tihama.

Healthcare.

The government does not provide free health care. Although life expectancy has increased from 46 years in 1990 to 61 years in 2003, this is lower than the average age (63 years) for developing countries.

Infant mortality rates remain quite high. In 1996, infant mortality was 78 per 1000 births, for children under 5 years of age - 105 per 1000. Infant mortality in 2003 decreased to 65 per 1000 births. The main causes of morbidity and mortality among children are gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. Research conducted in 1997 showed that half of children suffer from malnutrition. In mountainous and foothill areas, 1.5 million cases of malaria are recorded annually.

About 42% of the population has access to primary health services, with only 24% in rural areas. In 2000, there were 4,650 people per doctor, 2,913 people per nurse. and for 1 midwife – 14465 people. Half of all doctors are in Sana'a and Aden.

Education.

Until the 1960s, education was based mainly on the Koran. In YAR in 1978 there were less than 1000 schools, and in 1988 there were already 7783. In 1988, at least 700 thousand students studied in schools at various levels, incl. more than 10 thousand at the University of Sana'a (founded in 1970) and 50 other specialized and professional educational institutions. In 1989, the University of Aden (founded in 1975) had 3,900 students.

The country is merging two educational systems. The modern education system is closer to the north than to the south, and includes secular primary schools and two levels of secondary schools, as well as religious educational institutions. Separate training. The law provides for universal, compulsory and free education for children aged 6 to 15 years. However, many children, especially girls, do not attend primary school. If in 1993 83% of children attended primary school, then in subsequent years these figures decreased. According to the UN Children's Fund for 1998, 40% of children did not attend school. According to a report by the United Nations Development Program, in 2001, 76% of boys and 40% of girls attended primary schools. Only half of children in rural areas had the opportunity to receive primary education (in cities - 81%). In some rural areas there were no educational institutions for children at all. In the 2000–2001 school year. In the year, 2,643 thousand students were enrolled in primary schools, and 1,041 thousand in secondary schools.

There are several technical educational institutes: an agricultural school and six vocational schools. Main higher education institutions: University of Aden (1975), University of Sana'a (1970), Ibb University (1996), Taiz University (1995), School of Islamic Law. In total, 164 thousand students studied at universities (2000).

The literacy rate of the adult population remains low and is characterized by a large gap between men and women: in 1995 it was 32% (among women 26%, among men 38%), in 2003 - 50.2% (among women 30% and among men 70, 5%).

The largest libraries are located in the Great Mosque of Sana'a (over 10 thousand volumes and manuscripts) and at the Aden Municipality (over 30 thousand volumes).

Museums: National Museum (Sana), Archaeological Museum, Museum of Ethnography and Military History Museum (all in Aden).

Mass media.

There are 123 newspapers and magazines published in the country (2001). The largest newspapers are “Al-Saura”, “Al-Jumhuriya”, “Al-Islah”, “As-Sauri”. Most publications are published in Arabic. language. There are several English-language publications: Yemen Times (since 1991) and Yemen Observer. The Ministry of Information strictly monitors the content of all publications. The main news agencies are Saba (Sana, founded in 1970) and ANA (Aden, founded in 1970).

Radio broadcasting in South Yemen began in 1940. Radio Sanaa was founded in January 1946, but closed two years later and resumed broadcasting again in 1955. Radio Aden was founded on August 7, 1954. All radio and television broadcasting is under state control. Between 1976 and 1990, she was responsible for radio broadcasting in North Yemen Yemen State Radio and Television Corporation. In 1988, the PDRY was created Committee on Radio and Television Affairs. With the unification of Yemen, it was formed State Corporation for Radio and Television Affairs(1990), subordinate to the Ministry of Information. There are local radio stations in Taiz (1963), Al-Mukalla (1967), Al-Hodeidah (1969) and Saywoun (1973).

There are two national television channels: Channel 1 (a television service in the north), which began broadcasting on September 26, 1975, and Channel 2 (a station in the south), founded on September 11, 1964. Color television broadcasting in the north started on September 26, 1979, and in the south - 8 March 1981. Stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia are also accepted.

The development of the telecommunications network began after the merger in 1990. The only Internet service provider is Teleyemen, a parastatal company under the Ministry of Telecommunications. There are about 17 thousand Internet users (2002). Over 100 Internet cafes have been opened.

STORY

Ancient history.

The southern part of the Arabian Peninsula is one of the most ancient centers of world civilization. Due to its convenient geographical location and favorable climatic conditions, nomadic cattle breeding and settled agriculture began to take shape here faster than in other regions of Arabia. The earliest known civilization on the territory of Yemen is the state of Ma'in, which existed in the 2nd millennium BC. Subsequently, it became part of the state of Saba, where already in the 8th century. BC. an extensive irrigation system was created, the water of which came from a huge reservoir built in its capital Marib. In the south in mid. I millennium BC The state of Ausan dominated. Subsequently it was conquered by Qataban, who at the end of the 5th century. BC. fell under the blows of the Sabaeans. The areas east of Qataban were occupied by Hadhramaut, with centers in Irma and Shabwa (from the 9th century BC). The basis for the prosperity of all these states was the trade in myrrh, incense and other fragrant resins.

In the 1st century AD Saba became part of the Himyarite kingdom, which later expanded its possessions to the east. At the beginning of the 4th century. The Himyarites subjugated all of South Arabia. In the 30s 4th century. Yemen was invaded by the troops of the Kingdom of Aksum, which was located on the territory of modern Ethiopia. Long before our era, Jews began to move to Yemen, and during the period of Ethiopian rule, Christians appeared here - under the Ethiopian governor Abraha, a large church was built in Sanaa. Christianity and Judaism became most widespread during the period of the second Himyarite kingdom (378–525). The struggle of the Himyarite ruler Dhu Nawas against Byzantine influence and Christianization served as the pretext for a new Ethiopian invasion, carried out in 525 with the support of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. The Himyar state, which was going through a period of fragmentation, disappeared. The new Ethiopian rule did not last long. In 575, the Aksumite rulers were defeated by the Sassanids, and half a century later the Marib Dam was destroyed. In 628, the last Persian governor of Yemen converted to Islam.

Medieval history.

In the 30s of the 7th century. The territory of Yemen became part of the Arab Caliphate. Over the next few centuries, the country was under Umayyad and Abbasid rule. Weakening of the caliphate in the 9th century. contributed to the rise of local dynasties. In Yemen, the states of the Ziyadids (820–1017) and Yafurids (861–994) arose, formally being vassals of the Abbasids. In 872, the caliph was forced to recognize Abdallah ibn Yafur as his Yemeni governor, who soon declared his complete independence.

The struggle of local dynasties against the caliphate often took on a religious character. The split between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam in Yemen appeared very early. In the mountainous regions of the north, in Ibb, the dominant positions were occupied by the Zaydis, followers of the moderate trend in Shiism, and in the south, in Tiham, as well as in Hadhramaut, the Sunnis, mainly followers of the Shafi'i religious-legal school, dominated.

The principles of Zaydi theocratic rule were laid down in the 9th century. Imam al-Hadi, who became the first ruler of the Rassid dynasty (894–1301). In 898, the head of the Zaydis established himself in the city of Saada and proclaimed the creation of an imamate there. The Yafurids offered them the most fierce resistance. After many years of war with them, the Rassids captured Sanaa and extended their power to a number of other regions of Yemen. Gradually, the imams of the Shia Zaydi sect were recognized as the spiritual leaders of the entire northern part of the Yemeni region.

From the beginning of the 11th century. Most of Yemen became a vassal to the Fatimids. During this period, almost all of Yemen was united under the rule of the Sulayhids (1037–1098), adherents of the Shia Ismaili sect. In the middle of the 11th century. their troops defeated the Zaydis and captured Medina, Sana'a and Aden. After the weakening of the Suleyhids, their lands were annexed by the Zureyyads (1083–1174), representatives of the influential Zureya family, who occupied a dominant position in Aden. Until the end of the 12th century. they remained the main stronghold of Ismailism in South Arabia. In 1173/74 Yemen was captured by the Ayyubids, who overthrew the Sulayhids and Zurayyads. Ayyubid rule in Yemen lasted until 1229, when the Rasulid dynasty (1229–1454) reigned here. All the western regions of South Yemen, Dhofar and Hadhramaut came under their rule. During this period, culture, trade and crafts flourished. By the middle of the 15th century. The Rasulids, who were at enmity with the Zaydi imams, lost their position in the region. In 1454 Aden was captured by the troops of Ali ibn Tahir from the Beni Tahir tribe. A few years later, most of South Yemen came under the rule of the Tahirids (1454–1517). A unified Yemeni state was formed, stretching from Tihama to Dhofar.

New story.

In the beginning. 16th century Yemen became the target of a struggle between Portugal and the Ottoman Empire. In 1513 the Portuguese captured Aden, but already in 1516 they were expelled by the Egyptian Mamluks. Further advances of the Mamluks were stopped by the Ottoman Turks. In 1517, Yemen was captured by the Ottoman Empire, but already in 1597, an uprising began in the country under the leadership of the Zaydi imam al-Kassem, who founded a strong theocratic state (1633). After the Ottoman Turks left the country (1638), the Zaydi imams extended their authority over much of North and South Yemen. However, as a result of internecine struggle at the end of the 17th century. - early 18th century Yemen fell into decline again. To the east of Aden, small independent emirates and sultanates emerged, such as Lower and Upper Yafai, Lower and Upper Awlaki, Dala in 1682 and Lahj in 1728.

By the beginning of the 19th century. Part of the regions of Northern Yemen came under the control of the Wahhabis, who ousted the Zaydi imams. The nominal power of the imamate was maintained only in the vicinity of Sana'a. After the defeat of the Wahhabis by the troops of the Egyptian Pasha Muhammad Ali (1818), the Zaydi imams recognized themselves as vassals of the Egyptian Pasha. His power over Yemen remained until 1840. A new attempt by the Ottoman Empire in 1849 to take control of Yemen ended in failure.

At the beginning of the 19th century. British influence began to increase in the southern regions of Yemen. In 1802, the Sultan of Lahja signed a trade agreement with the East India Company, which determined the conditions for the British to stay in Aden. In 1839, Aden was occupied by British troops in order to prevent its capture by the virtually independent Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali. This port, under the jurisdiction of British India, became an important trading and transhipment point with a rapidly growing population. Its importance especially increased after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.

Treaties and agreements were imposed on local rulers About friendship, peace and concessions, according to which the British provided the sultans and sheikhs with annual financial subsidies, and they undertook to prevent anti-British speeches, ensure road safety and supply the English troops with food.

In addition to Aden, in 1857 the Perim Islands were included in the British Empire, and in 1866 a British protectorate was established over the Socotra Island. In subsequent decades, the zone of British influence in South Arabia expanded significantly. By the beginning of the First World War, Great Britain had entered into protectorate agreements with 24 small principalities located north and east of Aden. Local rulers took upon themselves the obligation not to enter into contacts with other states without the knowledge of the British, not to conclude international treaties and agreements, and not to alienate their territory to other states in any form.

In the second half of the 19th century. The Ottoman Empire once again laid claim to Yemen. In 1872, the Ottoman Turks captured part of the country, including Sanaa, and remained the country's nominal rulers until 1918. With great difficulty, Turkish troops managed to suppress a powerful uprising against Ottoman rule that broke out in 1891–1892. However, already in 1904, a new uprising began in the country under the leadership of Imam Yahya, who had just ascended the throne. The rebels took Sanaa and other cities, and in 1908 the Porte was forced to accept Yahya's conditions, in fact agreeing with his internal autonomy. However, two years later hostilities resumed. After many years of struggle, the Turkish government was forced to conclude an agreement in 1911, according to which the Sultan recognized the complete autonomy of North Yemen and pledged not to interfere in its internal affairs; secular and spiritual power in these areas passed to Imam Yahya, who, for his part, recognized the suzerainty of the Sultan and agreed to the presence of the Turkish Pasha and troops in the country. During World War I, Yahya maintained vassal relations with the Ottoman Empire, but did not participate in hostilities.

The de facto division of Yemen was secured by a series of treaties between Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire. In 1903 and 1905, special Anglo-Turkish agreements were signed on the boundaries separating British possessions in Yemen from the rest of Yemen. In May 1914, the Ottoman Empire was forced to sign a convention, according to which it renounced any claims to the territories of the British protectorates. At the same time, partial demarcation of borders was carried out. However, the Yemeni government, which came to power as a result of the 1904–1911 uprising, refused to recognize the Anglo-Turkish partition line.

Yemen 1918–1990.

North.

Northern Yemen gained independence in 1918, after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, and in 1926 became known as the Mutawakkil Kingdom of Yemen. Taking advantage of the anti-English protests of the South Yemen tribes, Imam Yahya entered the northern regions of the English protectorates in 1919. In March 1925, forces loyal to the imam occupied the city of Hodeidah, and the following year established control over the entire territory of Tihama. However, its claims to Asir in the north and protectorates in the south were not realized due to the capture of Asir by the new Saudi state in the 1920s and continued British supremacy in the south. In the fall of 1928, Imam Yahya was forced to clear the areas of the Aden Protectorate he had occupied. In 1934, after an unsuccessful war with Saudi Arabia, Yahya renounced his claims to the disputed territories in the north (Asir, Jizan and Najran). In the same year, agreements were signed with Great Britain and Saudi Arabia, but the borders of the state were not clearly defined.

The political result of the war with Saudi Arabia was the weakening of Yemen, which Italy took advantage of. In 1938 she imposed on Yemen treaty of friendship and alliance. In exchange for arms supplies, Yahya ceded a number of islands off the Yemeni coast to Italy.

During the Second World War, the country maintained neutrality. In 1943, Imam Yahya broke off diplomatic relations with Italy. Nationals of Italy and Germany were interned. After the war, Yemen became one of the founders of the Arab League, and in 1947 it was admitted to the UN.

In 1948, Imam Yahya was assassinated by a group of oppositionists who opposed conservatism and a harsh style of government. After an intra-clan struggle, his son Ahmed ibn Yahya ibn Mohammed Hamid ed-Din took his place. In 1956, Ahmed entered into military alliances with Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia and turned to the Soviet Union for help. In 1958, Yemen entered into a confederation with the United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria), which was dissolved in 1961. However, the regime of Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt, being a nominal ally of the Yemeni imam, did not actually support him. In 1959, riots broke out in the country. The Yemeni military soon became the center of opposition to the imam's rule.

In 1961, Imam Ahmad survived an assassination attempt, but was only wounded and died on September 19, 1962. Two days later, his son Muhammad al-Badr was proclaimed king and imam. Within days of Imam Ahmed's death and his son's accession to the throne, a group of officers led by Colonel Abdullah al-Salal seized power in Sana'a and proclaimed the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR). Power passed into the hands of the Revolutionary Command Council. The main goals of the revolution were the elimination of the absolutist monarchical regime and foreign influence in the country and the establishment of a republican Islamic democratic form of government based on social justice. Most of the tribes in the northeast, supported by Saudi Arabia and Jordan, rallied around the imam, while the western and southern regions of the country sided with the Republicans, who received the support of Egyptian troops.

The issue of resolving the conflict was discussed in 1965 at a meeting between Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Their negotiations ended with an agreement, according to which both countries pledged to stop interfering in the affairs of North Yemen and to give its people the opportunity to choose the desired form of government through a plebiscite. Subsequent peace initiatives, however, proved fruitless. Egypt accused Saudi Arabia of continuing to provide military assistance to the monarchists, and in 1966 fighting broke out with renewed vigor.

Only after Egypt's defeat in the six-day war with Israel in 1967 were Egyptian troops withdrawn from Yemen, and Saudi Arabia agreed to stop interfering in the country's affairs. In November 1967, As-Salal was removed from his post. Its functions were entrusted to the Republican Council, consisting of 3 people, headed by Abd ar-Rahman al-Aryani. Hassan al-Amri was again asked to take the post of prime minister. Taking advantage of the withdrawal of Egyptian troops, the monarchists at the end of 1967 - beginning of 1968 made an unsuccessful attempt to capture Sanaa. The new president al-Aryani turned to the USSR for support. In response, Saudi Arabia resumed assistance to the monarchists. The possibility of a quick capture of Sana'a by supporters of the monarchy forced the USSR to organize an air bridge to save the city. Saudi Arabia, not wanting further involvement of the USSR in the affairs of the region, suspended assistance to the imam. The Imam was removed, and the Republicans established their rule over most of North Yemen. In April 1970, the civil war in the country ended - an agreement was signed under which the former monarchists received several seats in the republican government.

In the new constitution adopted on December 28, 1970, the YAR was proclaimed a “consultative parliamentary republic.” The activities of parties and organizations were prohibited, Islam was declared the state religion, and Sharia law was declared the source of all laws. The highest legislative body was the Advisory Council, consisting of 159 members, of which 80% were elected through “free and democratic elections”, and the rest were appointed by the Republican Council.

However, the work of the new government was ineffective due to constant clashes between President al-Aryani and the Advisory Council. On June 12, 1974, the chairman of the Republican Council, al-Aryani, resigned. The next day, a group of officers led by Colonel Ibrahim al-Hamdi seized power. The YAR constitution was suspended, the Republican Council was dissolved, and its powers were transferred to the Command Council formed by the military. In October 1977, al-Hamdi was killed and was replaced by the head of the general staff, Colonel Ahmed Hussein al-Gashimi. During the reign of al-Gashimi, a Constituent People's Assembly was convened, which had mainly advisory functions. Most of its deputies were appointed by the military. Opposition forces united within the framework of the left-wing National Democratic Front (NDF), supported by the PDRY. In April 1978, the Command Council was transformed into a Presidential Council, headed by Al-Gashimi. On June 24, 1978, President Ahmed al-Ghashimi was killed when a bomb exploded in the attaché case of the PDRY President's envoy, Salem Rubay Ali. YAR authorities accused the PDRY of organizing the murder. Lieutenant Colonel Ali Abdullah Saleh became the new president. 76 out of 96 members of the Constituent People's Assembly voted for him. It is noteworthy that with each change of leadership, most civilian technocrats retained their posts, and the post of prime minister, for example, regularly passed from al-Aryani to Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Ghani and back. In 1982, the Constituent People's Assembly was transformed into a more representative body, the General People's Congress, in which 70% of the deputies were elected and the rest appointed by the opposition. In 1985, elections to local councils were held, which was the next step in the preparation for national elections. On July 5, 1988, the first general direct elections to the newly formed Legislative Assembly took place. Among his candidates there was not a single opponent of the regime. Saleh received the support of the majority of the population and was elected president for a third five-year term, and the entry of the PDRY into the YAR two years later was perceived as a triumph of the new government.

South.

Until 1932, Aden was part of the Bombay Presidency, directly subordinate to the British government. Subsequently, it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Viceroy of British India. In 1937 Aden received the status of a crown colony. In addition to it, the colony included the islands of Perim and Curia-Muria. The colony was governed by an English governor (high commissioner), who relied on the Executive Council. In 1944, the Legislative Council was formed, whose members were appointed by the governor.

The rest of the Yemeni region, which by that time consisted of more than 30 sultanates, emirates, sheikhdoms and tribal states, was divided in 1937 into the Western and Eastern Aden Protectorates. The High Commissioner in Aden exercised control over both protectorates through his resident advisers.

The revolution in Egypt in 1952 contributed to the development of the national movement in the Aden protectorate. With the onset of the Suez Crisis of 1956, the country's attitude towards Great Britain noticeably worsened. In an effort to reform the ineffective system of governance in the protectorate, Great Britain entered into an agreement in 1959 with six small states of the Western Protectorate of Aden to form the Federation of the Arab Emirates of the South . Later, a number of new states joined the Federation and the number of its members increased to ten. The states of the Eastern Protectorate of Aden that were not included in the Federation formed the Protectorate of South Arabia, which united 19 states. In April 1962 the Federation was renamed the Federation of South Arabia (FSA). The following year, despite strong opposition from the local government, the colony of Aden joined the FSA, and by 1965 it already included 17 tribal states. The highest legislative body of the Federation was the Federal Council, which had limited powers and consisted of 103 members. The government of the FLA was the Supreme Council, which included sultans, emirs and sheikhs. Great Britain promised to grant the new state independence by 1968, subject to maintaining its military base in Aden. From the point of view of the leaders of the National Front for the Liberation of the Occupied South of Yemen (NF), and later the Front for the Liberation of the Occupied South of Yemen (FLOSI), supported by Egypt and based in YAR, this only strengthened the existing system in the country. Both groups began armed struggle, but turned their weapons against each other in the mid-1960s. In 1967, Egypt withdrew its troops from Yemen, and the PF soon established full control over the former protectorate of Aden. At the same time, FLOSI continued to conduct separate operations from the territory of the YAR. On November 30, 1967, Great Britain transferred power in the country to the PF, and British troops left the territory of the newly proclaimed People's Republic of South Yemen. By decree of the government, all South Yemeni state entities were abolished, and their rulers were put on trial. One of the leaders of the moderate wing of the Popular Front, Qakhtan Mohammed al-Shaabi, became the president of the country.

In June 1969, al-Shaabi was removed from his post by a revolutionary faction led by the pro-Soviet Abdel Fattah Ismail and the pro-Chinese Salem Rubaiya Ali. The latter became chairman of the newly created Presidential Council. Having come to power, the left wing of the NF declared its intention to be guided in its activities by the ideology of scientific socialism and made a choice in favor of a socialist orientation. The new leadership developed laws on the nationalization of the property of foreign companies, the creation of a public sector in the economy and agrarian reform. In accordance with the constitution, which came into force on November 30, 1970, a new name for the country was adopted - the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY). The Supreme People's Council was declared the highest body of state power, seats in which were distributed among the main political forces. The radical course of the South Yemeni leadership caused aggravation of relations with Saudi Arabia, Oman and YAR; From time to time, armed clashes broke out on the border. In 1972, an agreement was reached with the YAR, which provided for the end of the struggle and the gradual unification of the two countries. However, the agreement was not implemented. In March 1972, the National Front was transformed into the Political Organization National Front (PONF), and in 1975 it merged with left-wing Baathists and Marxists into the United Political Organization National Front (OPONF). In 1978, Salem Rubaiya Ali was deposed (later executed). In the same year, Abdel Fattah Ismail became the head of state (chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Council), who concluded an agreement with the USSR on the deployment of Soviet armed forces on the territory of the country (for a period of 20 years). The leadership of the PDRY set a course for completing the stage of the national democratic revolution for the subsequent transition to socialist construction. OPONF was renamed the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP). At the same time, amendments were made to the constitution, fixing the people's democratic nature of the reforms and the leading role of the YSP in society. According to the constitution of 1978, the PDRY was proclaimed a democratic people's republic, expressing the interests of workers, peasants, intelligentsia, petty bourgeoisie and all working people.

However, differences between individual leaders and factions within the YSP were not overcome. In April 1980, A.F. Ismail was removed from the posts of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the YSP and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme National Assembly and emigrated to the USSR, and his place was taken by the more pragmatic Ali Nasser Muhammad al-Hasani, who had previously served as Prime Minister. In 1983, relations with Saudi Arabia and Oman were restored. In January 1986, after the arrival of Abdel Fattah Ismail from the USSR and his return to the party leadership, bloody clashes broke out in Aden, the immediate cause of which was the preemptive strike delivered on January 13, 1986 by Ali Nasser Muhammad against Ismail’s supporters at a meeting of the Politburo of the YSP Central Committee. Abdel Fattah Ismail and most other hardliner leaders were killed. During the clashes that lasted for 12 days, approx. 10 thousand people, but in the end the supporters of Ali Nasser Muhammad were defeated and fled to the YAR. In October 1986, Heidar Abu Bakr al-Attas became the chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Council of the PDRY, but the de facto leader of the country was the General Secretary of the YSP Central Committee, Ali Salem al-Beid.

Association of YAR and NDRY.

Relations between the two Yemeni states remained tense until 1989. In 1967–1972 and in 1979, armed clashes took place on the border. Until 1982, the PDRY supported the opposition in the YAR. The 1972 unification agreement was not implemented, and prospects for achieving national unity were dashed by the removal of Salem Rubaiya Ali and the assassination of al-Ghashimi in 1978, both of which occurred within the same month, perhaps with the participation of hard-liners. Saudi Arabia also prevented rapprochement between the two Yemeni states.

Plans for unifying the country were revived again after a two-week war between the YAR and the PDRY in 1979. In 1981, a draft of a unified constitution was prepared. At the same time, it was decided to create a Supreme Yemeni Council at the level of members of the heads of state on cooperation issues. During the reign of Ali Nasser Muhammad in Aden, relations between the two countries improved again. As a result, there was a threat of a radical uprising, which provoked him to launch a preemptive strike in 1986. After the civil war, the PDRY showed a turn towards pragmatism in foreign and domestic policy, which prompted the YAR to begin a new round of negotiations. Relations between the two states improved markedly after the conclusion of a cooperation agreement in May 1988, which focused on the joint development of oil fields in the border area. At the end of November 1989, an agreement was signed on unification within a year on the basis of the draft constitution of 1981. Then events developed rapidly, ahead of plans, as the danger of hardliners in the PDRY and fundamentalists in the YAR again arose. By accelerating the process of unification, the leaders of the PDRY and YAR hoped to stop their countries from sliding into mass unrest. In May 1988, both states created a demilitarized zone along the border, and on May 22, 1990, the unification of the YAR and the PDRY was announced and the beginning of a 30-month transition period for the unification of all political institutions. It was promised that a referendum and elections would be held at the end of the transition period.

Modern history of the Republic of Yemen since 1990.

The first chairman of the transitional Presidential Council, which consisted of 5 members, was Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Saleh, his deputy was al-Beid from the former PDRY. The Presidential Council formed a temporary advisory political body of 45 members (20 from the South and 25 from the North), which included prominent tribal and religious leaders. The new prime minister was Abu Bakr al-Attas, the former prime minister of the PDRY. A 301-member Advisory Council was formed, which included 159 parliamentarians from the former YAR and 111 parliamentarians from the former PDRY, as well as 31 newly appointed MPs, including some opposition figures.

Several months after its establishment, the transitional government of the Republic of Yemen opposed the presence of foreign military forces in Saudi Arabia. In response, the Saudis expelled from the country, according to various estimates, from 850 thousand to 1.5 million Yemeni workers, who, upon returning to their homeland, contributed to an increase in unemployment and a deterioration in the economic situation.

By September 1990, 30 new parties had been formed in the country - from liberals to traditionalists and Islamists (the most famous movement is the Yemeni Union for Reform (Islah), which included representatives of various tribal and religious groups). In May 1991, before a national referendum on a new constitution for the republic, members of Islah and the Muslim Brotherhood (leader Sheikh Abdel Hamid Zaidani) organized demonstrations calling for a boycott of the referendum on the grounds that the draft constitution did not sufficiently take into account the role of Islam. Nevertheless, a constitution based on provisions approved by the leadership of the YAR and the PDRY was adopted on May 15–16, 1991.

Initially, all power was concentrated in the hands of a small number of senior leaders, in particular President Saleh. National elections were held during the first two months of 1993. Approximately 4,730 candidates competed for the 301 seats on the Advisory Council. The General People's Congress won 123 seats, Islah - 62, Yemen Socialist Party (YSP) - 56, Baath - 6, Nasserists - 3, Al-Haq - 2, the remaining seats were taken by independent candidates. The leader of Islah, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar, was elected speaker of parliament. As a result of the 1993 elections, representatives of the North received four-fifths of the seats in the Council of Ministers. In August 1993, the General Secretary of the YSP Central Committee, al-Beid, after a meeting with US Vice President Albert Gore in Washington, returned to Aden, the capital of the former PDRY, rather than Sana'a, and began to openly oppose what he called the "marginalization of the South" and "hegemony North." Al-Beid said that 150 YSP members were killed after the unification, and demanded an explanation from the country's leadership about the spending of funds received by the government from oil exports.

Following Al-Beid to Aden were government members from the YSP. In October 1993, parliament elected a new composition of the Presidential Council, in which Ali Abdullah Saleh retained the post of chairman. His deputy and Prime Minister of the Republic of Yerevan, Al-Beid, was absent from the oath of office of the Council members on October 16, 1993.

Al-Beid's speeches marked the beginning of a split between the leaders of the North and South. By November 1993, reports emerged that the armed forces of the former PDRY and YAR were being deployed along the former border. In January 1994, representatives of the main political parties signed a “Document of Intent and Consent” in Amman (Jordan). The agreement provided for some decentralization of power, and also contained a promise to revise economic policies and the constitution. Saleh promised to provide the South with administrative and financial autonomy, incl. the possibility of control over the oil fields located here. However, political efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict were ineffective, and on April 27, 1994, a battle took place in the Amran area between the armies of the YAR and the PDRY. Subsequently, armed clashes occurred in the vicinity of Aden and in Damar; rockets were fired at targets in Sanaa, Aden and some other places. In early May, President Saleh removed Al-Beid and members of the government from the YSP from their posts, and the parliament deprived all socialist deputies of their parliamentary mandates. After the southerners suffered a series of defeats, military operations concentrated in the Aden area.

On May 21, 1994, al-Bayd proclaimed the creation of the new Democratic Republic of Yemen (DRY). President Saleh did not recognize this declaration and declared a state of emergency, ordering a continuation of the offensive against Aden. The UN, in its resolution No. 924, demanded a ceasefire and sent a commission to investigate the situation. But on July 7, 1994, Aden was taken, and the civil war thus effectively ended. Al-Baid and thousands of his supporters fled to Oman. In total, 7 thousand people were killed and 16 thousand were wounded during the fighting. An attempt to organize an armed opposition in Saudi Arabia did not produce any significant results.

At the end of hostilities, President Ali Abdullah Saleh declared a general amnesty, which applied to all parties to the conflict, with the exception of a group of 16 individuals against whom an arrest order for treason was issued in early May. The government has filed lawsuits against four southern leaders - Ali Salem al-Beid, Haydar Abu Bakr al-Attas, Abd al-Rahman Ali al-Jifri and Saleh Munassar al-Siyali - accused of misappropriating public funds. The rest of the list were informally asked to return to take advantage of the amnesty, but most chose to remain outside the country.

In September 1994, amendments to the constitution were adopted that abolished the Presidential Council. On October 1, 1994, President Ali Abdallah Saleh was re-elected by parliament for a 5-year term. They appointed a new Council of Ministers and formed a coalition government.

After the civil war, the YSP leadership within Yemen reorganized the party and elected a new Politburo in July 1994. However, the party remained demoralized and was unable to regain its former influence. In September 1994, the Al-Islah party congress took place. In June 1995, the congress of the All-Russian People's Commissariat was held.

In 1995, conflict broke out with Eritrea over the Hanish Islands, a small archipelago located in the southern Red Sea at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Eritrean troops captured the largest of the islands, Hanish Kebir, in December 1995, and Hanish Sakhir in August 1996, but were soon driven out by the Yemeni army. In February 1998, the dispute was submitted to International Arbitration in The Hague, and a decision was announced in 1999. The largest island, Greater Hanish, was returned to Yemen; the remaining islands were divided between the two countries, with Eritrean fishermen given free fishing rights in the archipelago's waters.

In the elections held on April 27, 1997, the General People's Congress increased its representation in the Consultative Council from 123 to 187, while Islah received only 53 seats (instead of 62 in 1993). Independents won 54 seats, while the Nasserists and the Ba'ath Party won the remaining seats. The opposition, including the YSP, boycotted the elections, but some of its representatives participated as independent candidates. In October 1996, President Saleh appointed Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Ghani (a former member of the Transitional Presidential Council) as Prime Minister. After the April elections, Abd al-Ghani resigned and was replaced by Farah Said bin Ghanim, a political figure who did not belong to any party. Representatives of the All-Russian People's Commissariat received 24 of 27 portfolios in the new government. At the first meeting of the Advisory Council, the leader of the Islah party, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar, was re-elected as its chairman. In April 1998, Ben Ghanim resigned, and his deputy and Foreign Minister Abd al-Kerim al-Aryani became the new prime minister. All seats in the government, except the Ministry of Religious Affairs, went to the General People's Congress.

The new government took unpopular economic measures, which caused massive popular unrest in 1998. In the capital and its environs alone, more than 50 people died during protests against rising food prices.

Yemen in the 21st century.

In the first direct presidential elections, held on September 23, 1999, Ali Abdullah Saleh was re-elected to a new term. 96.2% of voters voted for the president. However, candidates from opposition parties were not allowed to participate in the elections, which gave the opposition the opportunity to accuse the government of rigging the voting results. Official figures put voter turnout at 66%, but observers question the accuracy of the data.

In the second half of the 1990s, the country was overwhelmed by acts of violence by Islamic radicals and kidnappings of foreign tourists, organized by tribes from the remote northern and northeastern regions. Tribal militias often attacked transport communications and oil pipelines. Much of the violence was based on the tribal groups' unsettled relationship with the state. In exchange for the surrender of the captive, the kidnappers often demanded the construction of schools, roads, infrastructure improvements and participation in the tourism business. At the same time, radical Islamist groups, like the Islamic Army of Aden and Abyan, demanded the transformation of Yemen into an Islamic state.

The state found itself helpless in the face of the actions of tribal and Islamic groups. From 1992 to 2000 alone, about 200 foreigners were taken hostage. The state's position on kidnappings changed when, on December 26, 1998, a group of tourists was captured east of Aden by militants of the Islamic Army of Aden and Abyan, who were demanding the release of their supporters. As a result of the poorly organized rescue operation, several hostages died. On May 5, 1999, three participants in the kidnapping were sentenced to death (the first sentence under the death penalty law in hostage-taking cases, adopted in August 1998).

Kidnappings and hostage-taking of foreigners peaked in 1999. On November 24, 1999, diplomatic missions in Yemen banned all travel to the interior of the country without specific notice to their citizens. The government introduced special courts to deal with kidnapping cases. At the beginning of March 2000, a high-ranking Polish diplomat, K. Suprovich, was kidnapped. However, this time the government did not use force, and soon all the hostages were released. The kidnappings caused a decline in tourism, but rising oil prices offset budget losses.

In May 2000, Yemen marked the tenth anniversary of the country's unification, accompanied by a new series of bombings and an assassination attempt on President Saleh.

Following the October 12, 2000 attack by al-Qaeda militants on the USS Cole in Aden harbor, Yemen has come under international criticism for its failure to effectively combat religious extremism. As a result of the terrorist attack, 17 American sailors were killed and 37 wounded. A similar incident occurred in October 2002, when the French tanker Limburg was blown up off the coast of Yemen. Under pressure from the US administration, which claimed that international terrorists were taking refuge in the country, the Yemeni government was forced to come to grips with the problem of terrorism. The National Security Agency was formed in August 2002; Major operations and mass arrests of persons suspected of kidnappings and connections with the armed underground were carried out in various parts of the country.

In August 2000, President Ali Abdallah Saleh proposed a series of amendments to the constitution. These amendments were put to a referendum on February 24, 2001. They included an additional article declaring environmental protection the responsibility of the state. The new amendments also increased the term of parliament from four to six years, extended the presidential mandate from five to seven years, gave the president the ability to directly call new elections after the dissolution of parliament, without a popular referendum asking the question of the reason for dissolution, and eliminated conditions regarding the right to President to issue decrees with the force of law when parliament is not in session or dissolved. Along with this, compulsory military service was abolished.

Local elections were held simultaneously with the referendum on the constitution. According to media reports, 29 people died during the elections. In March 2001, the president appointed Abd al-Qadir Bajammal as the new prime minister.

In parliamentary elections held in April 2003, the General People's Congress won 238 of 301 seats; The Islah party won 46 seats, the other 17 seats went to several small parties.

Despite the crisis of the unified Yemeni state and the turbulent events of the subsequent restoration of its unity, during the 1990s there was a significant increase in political freedoms and participation of the population in public life, accompanied by the emergence of democratic institutions. Clear evidence of this trend was the successful holding of general parliamentary elections in 1993 and 1997, as well as the formation of opposition parties critical of President Saleh and the General People's Congress, which has been in power since 1994. The growth in the number of newspapers and other publications reflecting various political trends , indicates similar trends in public life.

In September 2006, Ali Abdallah Saleh was re-elected as president of the country (82% of the votes).

In February 2011, mass anti-government protests began. The main demand put forward by the demonstrators was the resignation of the current president. The armed forces went over to the side of the opposition. The fight against the authorities began to take on an armed character. In July 2011, opposition forces fired at the mosque where Saleh was staying. As a result, he was seriously injured. He was flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment.

The opposition handed Saleh a power transfer agreement that was drawn up jointly with the Gulf Cooperation Council. In November 2011, the president agreed to sign this agreement, because According to the treaty, the president and members of his family were guaranteed immunity from criminal prosecution. Saleh led the country for 33 years. Power was transferred to Vice President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, although Saleh formally remained president. But as soon as he received parliamentary approval for immunity from prosecution, he flew to the United States.

On February 21, 2012, presidential elections took place. The only candidate nominated was Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi. He received 99% of the votes. However, he became president only for 2 years - during the transition period. During this time, a national dialogue conference should be held, at which a new constitution will be developed and the country's political system will be determined.

On the day the new president was sworn in, a powerful explosion occurred near the presidential palace in the city of Mukalla. 26 people died. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the explosion.

Kirill Limanov

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Yemen is a Middle Eastern state, one of the poorest among Arab countries. It has mountains, oceans and deserts. Where is Yemen? What peoples live in it? You will learn about what this country is like today from our article.

Where is Yemen?

The official name of the country is the Republic of Yemen, or Al-Jumhuriya al-Yamamaniya. This is one of the Arab states in the world where the majority of the population is Muslim. In Arabic, the name "al-yaman" means "right side", and was associated with the orientation system in ancient times.

Where is Yemen? The republic is located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, on the shores of the Gulf of Aden, the Red and Arabian Seas. On the continent, the country borders Oman (to the east) and Saudi Arabia (to the north). Its neighbors across the sea are Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea.

In terms of area, the state ranks 49th in the world, covering 527,970 square kilometers. It is a unitary presidential republic with its capital in the city of Sana'a. The currency of Yemen is the rial. Saleh al-Samad is considered the de facto president of the country, although it is nominally headed by Abd-Rabbu Hadi, elected in 2012.

Population of Yemen

The state is home to about 28 million people. Most of them are rural residents. They make up 69% of Yemen's population. Arabic is the official language, and the Arabs are the titular nation. Besides them, there are Pakistanis, Indians, people from Africa, and descendants of mixed marriages in the country.

The spoken language is the Yemenite dialect of Arabic. There are many Africans and people from non-Arab countries living in Aden, so the local dialect is different. It is a mixture of Arabic with words from Hindi, Swahili, Urdu and other languages.

The main state religion is Islam, and the legislative branch is subject to Sharia law. Muslims account for 99% of Yemen's population. Shiites live in the north, Sunni-Shafi Muslims live in the south. There are also movements of Ibadism and Ahmadism. Among other religions, Hinduism is the most widespread. The minority consists of Catholics and Protestants, Yemenite Jews, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, and crypto-Christians.

Sana

The largest cities in the country: Aden, Ibb, Taiz, Hodeidah. Among them is also the capital of Yemen - Sana'a. It is inhabited by more than 2.5 million people. This is an ancient city that was mentioned back in the first century AD. Its name translates as “strong building.”

The city of Sana'a is surrounded by mountains at an altitude of 2.2 kilometers. Thanks to this location, there is a mild climate with warm summers and winters. Extreme heat or frost occurs only occasionally.

According to biblical legend, the city was founded by Noah's son Shem. In history, Sanaa is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Himyar, which adopted Judaism in the 16th century. Already in 628, Islam was adopted in the city and the first mosque was built.

The main occupations of local residents are trade, services and tourism. Sana'a sells coffee, silver, silk, jewelry, carpets and handicrafts.

National symbols of the state

The coat of arms and flag are the state symbols of the country. They were adopted in 1990, when the Northern and Southern parts of the country reunited. They contain typical pan-Arab colors.

The flag of Yemen consists of three equal horizontal stripes. The top red one is a symbol of the blood shed in the struggle for the independent future of the country. The central white stripe signifies the aspirations of the people of the republic for peace, prosperity and cooperation. The black bottom line represents the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and himself.

The country's coat of arms depicts a golden eagle with open wings. There is a shield on the bird's chest. Inside it, the coffee tree is the main product produced in the republic. Under the tree there is a golden dam and blue waves. They symbolize the Marib Dam, which is mentioned in the Koran. On the sides of the eagle flutter the flags of Yemen, and below it is an Arabic inscription with the name of the republic.

Geography

The territory where Yemen is located was called Arabia Felix or “Happy Arabia” by the ancient Romans. It was known for its fertility and natural richness, unlike the rest of the peninsula. In fact, most of the country is covered by mountains and deserts. Fertile lands are located on the western mountain slopes, where cultivated terraces have long been located. Along the coast there are narrow plains.

The Yemeni mountains stretch from west to east for more than a thousand kilometers, and enter the territory of Oman. Gorges and narrow river valleys meander between them. There are many dormant volcanoes in the republic, which sometimes make themselves felt.

Closer to the center of the country there are mountains more than 1500 meters high. Not far from the capital of Yemen is the highest point of the country and the entire peninsula - Mount An-Nabi-Shuaib with a height of 3666 meters.

Mountains frame the western and southern coastal plains, ending in steep cliffs at their borders. Inside the peninsula the slopes are gentle. They gradually change into low hills and highlands, turning into rocky and sandy deserts (Tihama, Rub al-Khali, etc.) in the north and northeast of Yemen.

Nature

The greenest and most fertile areas of Yemen are the western slopes of the mountains, which are most heavily irrigated by precipitation (up to 1000 mm/year). Their foothills are covered with evergreen forests and shrubs. On the southern slopes there is almost two times less precipitation.

The coastal plains of salt marshes and sands are covered with halophytic plants (tamarisk, wormwood, saltwort, barnyard grass, succulents), which are also found in local deserts. Vast areas of Yemen are only occasionally covered with vegetation. The Rub al-Khali desert, for example, is considered one of the most lifeless areas in the world.

Acacias, oleanders, saxauls, camel thorns, and some annual and perennial herbs can withstand the harsh climate of the country. Hot weather and very humid air (about 96%) prevail here. On the coast, temperatures can reach up to 55 degrees. Twice a year (from March to May and from July to August) the “rainy season” begins, but moisture usually comes in the form of drizzle or fog. In deserts there may be no precipitation for several years.

This state in southwest Asia is characterized by oases - islands of greenery, in river valleys and in places where groundwater comes close to the surface. Dates, sesame seeds, mangoes, and coconut palms grow on them.

Animals of Yemen are gazelles, hyenas, jackals, jerboas and other desert rodents, Arabian wolves and leopards. In addition to hawks, gulls, kites and desert larks, there are flamingos and pelicans. The coastal waters are full of stingrays, barracudas, mackerel, mackerel, tuna, sharks and dolphins.

Economy

The republic has oil and natural gas reserves. Despite this, approximately a third of the population lives below the poverty line. Among other Arab countries, only Mauritania and Sudan have weaker economies than Yemen.

The state's powers have been severely weakened by numerous conflicts, revolutions and civil wars, leaving Yemen dependent on foreign aid, particularly from Saudi Arabia. The country's authorities are trying to restructure the economy, setting a course for the development of agriculture, for which about a quarter of the territory is suitable.

Cotton, tobacco, coffee, cereals and fruits, especially bananas and citrus fruits, are grown on the mountain terraces. Sheep, birds, camels and cattle are raised. Residents of the coast rely on fishing.

The port of Aden is important, connecting the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The country exports coffee and fish to China, Thailand, India and South Africa, and crude oil is supplied to the USA and South Korea.

The industry is poorly developed, so related products are supplied from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, India and China. Cotton production, food processing, ship repair, aluminum and cement production are gradually developing in Yemen.

Yemen... What do we know about this country? Where is it? What interesting things can you tell about the cities of Yemen? Our article will introduce you to one of the most mysterious countries

An amazing country, an unknown country...

Are we familiar enough with a state like Yemen? I think no. Little is written about Yemen and it is rarely mentioned in the news. Tourists and travelers also do not often visit this country. She seems to be isolated, cut off from the rest of the world.

This isolation is partly due to the country's geographic location. The Republic of Yemen is located on the very edge of the Arabian Peninsula and is washed on both sides by the seas of the Indian Ocean. Typical landscapes of Yemen are lifeless deserts and rocky massifs covered with sparse vegetation. In some areas of the state there is no rain for years.

Yemen is a fairly poor country. In terms of the standard of living of citizens, it occupies a far from honorable 151st place in the world. The unemployment rate is around 30%. True, this figure is largely explained by the fact that women do not work here at all. It is far from safe for tourists to be in the country, especially outside the major cities of Yemen. Foreign guests can travel around the republic only if accompanied by local armed “bodyguards”.

In Yemen, many men still walk the streets with machine guns at the ready. And this is not surprising if you familiarize yourself with the recent history of the country. 1994 - civil war, 1995 - conflict with Eritrea, 2011 - revolution. The last conflict here erupted in 2014, when Yemeni government troops clashed with the radical Shiite group Ansar Allah.

Population, economy and cities of Yemen

Yemen's population is growing rapidly. Today, about 25 million people live here. These are mainly Arabs, as well as small groups of immigrants from India and East African countries. The latter come here, oddly enough, to earn money. For example, from Somalia, where the standard of living is even lower than in Yemen.

Yemen's economy is based on oil production and refining, as well as agriculture. The country grows grain, cotton and beans (fruits in the oases), and raises goats, sheep and camels. There are small enterprises in the textile and food industries, and handicrafts are developed.

Administratively, the Republic of Yemen is divided into 22 governorates and 333 districts. There are 51 cities and over 38 thousand villages in the country. The largest cities in Yemen are listed below:

• Sana.
• Aden.
• Taiz.
• Hodeida.
• Mukalla.
• Damar.
• Saywun.

Sana'a, Yemen: capital of the republic

Every tenth Yemeni lives here. Sana'a is Yemen's largest city and its main financial and cultural center of the country. Sanaa is also considered one of the oldest cities not only in Asia, but in the whole world. The first mention of the current capital of Yemen, Sana'a, dates back to the first century AD. Today the historic city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Geographically, the city of Sana'a is located in the western part of the country, in a desert tropical climate zone. Its name is translated from Arabic as “strong, fortified building.” The city is surrounded on almost all sides by low mountains.

The modern city of Sana'a is a large metropolis with a population of 2.5 million people. It is an important center of trade as well as the Islamic religion in the Arab world. There are more than a hundred mosques in the city. There are also many attractions in Sana'a. Several thousand historical buildings built before the 11th century have been preserved here. Tourists are also attracted by the local bazaar, which is one of the oldest in all of Asia.

The city of Aden: the main port of the country

Aden is the second largest city in the republic and the largest on the coast of Yemen. There is an international airport here, as well as the most important transit port, located on one of the busiest sea routes on the planet. Aden is located on the shores of the bay of the same name. It has been known about it since ancient times.

Today, about 800 thousand people live in the city. Historically, Aden is divided into several distinct districts:

• Sina is the oldest and most populous district (historic center).
• At-Tuvahi is an area of ​​British colonists.
• A seaport is a deep harbor of natural origin, which was “ennobled” by English colonists and equipped by them to receive large sea vessels.
• Little Aden is an industrial area of ​​the city, which arose on the basis of a large oil refinery.

Among the attractions of Aden are both architectural monuments of the ancient period (Sira Fortress, Aden Gate) and numerous buildings of the colonial era (St. Joseph's Temple, Aden Big Ben and others). The city is also famous for the fact that the famous French poet Arthur Rimbaud lived there for some time. His house remains in Aden.

Fortress city Rada

Rada is a city in the south of Yemen (180 km from the capital), home to about 60 thousand people. Perhaps one of the most interesting and most beautiful in the country.

In the second half of the 15th century, the city was the capital of the Tahirid Kingdom, which managed to recapture Aden from the powerful and influential Rasulid dynasty. Since those distant times, it has managed to preserve a unique atmosphere, as well as a number of ancient buildings built from unusual clay bricks. The outside of these bricks is covered with a layer of gray clay. And this layer is updated annually.

The main attraction of the Rada is the medieval El-Amiriya Mosque, surrounded by an impregnable fortress wall. It has one unique feature - it does not have a minaret.

Shibam - a city protected by UNESCO

This city is located within the country's largest governorate, Hadhramaut, in the valley of the dry river of the same name. Shibam was founded at the beginning of our era. It is famous, first of all, for its original architecture.

Shibam is called the “Manhattan of the desert”. This name was awarded to him by the German journalist and traveler Hans Helfritz back in the 30s of the last century. However, all the “skyscrapers” here are built... from ordinary clay! Thanks to its architecture, the city of Shibam was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (in 1982).

A wide avenue runs through the entire city. Numerous alleys branch off from it in different directions. The width of some of them does not exceed two meters. All buildings in Shibam are built from madar, a local building material (clay-straw). Most of them date back to the 19th century.