Yemen Arab Republic
Yemen Arab Republic الجمهوريّة العربية اليمنية al-Jumhūrīyah al-`Arabīyah al-Yamanīyah | |||||||||
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| 1962–1990 | |||||||||
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| Anthem: Royal Salute | |||||||||
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| Capital | Sanaa | ||||||||
| Official languages | Arabic | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
| Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
• Established | September 26 1962 | ||||||||
| May 22 1990 | |||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 1990 | 195,000 km2 (75,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1990 | 7,160,981 | ||||||||
| Currency | North Yemeni rial | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+3 | ||||||||
| Calling code | 967 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | YE | ||||||||
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The Yemen Arab Republic (YAR), (in Arabic: الجمهوريّة العربية اليمنية [al-Jamhūrīyah al-`Arabīyah al-Yamanīyah] ) also known as North Yemen or Yemen (Sanaa), was a country from 1962 to 1990 in the northern part of what is now Yemen.[1] Its capital was at Sanaa. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, northern Yemen became an independent state as the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen. On 27 September 1962, revolutionaries inspired by the Arab nationalist ideology of United Arab Republic (Egyptian) President Gamal Abdul Nasser deposed the newly-crowned King Muhammad al-Badr, took control of Sanaa, and established the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR). This coup d'état marked the beginning of the North Yemen Civil War that pitted YAR troops assisted by the United Arab Republic (Egypt) while Saudi Arabia and Jordan supported Badr's royalist forces opposing the newly formed republic. Conflict continued periodically until 1967 when Egyptian troops were withdrawn. By 1968, following a final royalist siege of Sanaa, most of the opposing leaders reached a reconciliation; Saudi Arabia recognized the Republic in 1970.
Unlike East and West Germany or North and South Korea, the YAR and its southern neighbour, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY), also known as South Yemen, remained relatively friendly, though relations were often strained. In 1972 it was declared unification would eventually occur. However, these plans were put on hold in 1979, and war was only prevented by an Arab League intervention. The goal of unity was reaffirmed by the northern and southern heads of state during a summit meeting in Kuwait in March 1979. What the PDRY government failed to tell the YAR government was that it wished to be the dominant power in any unification, and left wing rebels in North Yemen began to receive extensive funding and arms from South Yemen.
Reunification
In May 1988, the YAR and PDRY governments came to an understanding that considerably reduced tensions including agreement to renew discussions concerning unification, to establish a joint oil exploration area along their undefined border, to demilitarize the border, and to allow Yemenis unrestricted border passage on the basis of only a national identification card.
See also
- History of Yemen
- Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
- President of Yemen Arab Republic
- Prime Minister of Yemen Arab Republic
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 188
References
- ^ The United States extended diplomatic recognition to the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) on 19 December 1962, The Times, 20 December 1962.