Yemen Arab Republic

Infobox Former Country
native_name = الجمهوريّة العربية اليمنية
al-Jumhūrīyah al-`Arabīyah al-Yamanīyah
conventional_long_name = Yemen Arab Republic
common_name = Yemen
continent = moved from Category:Asia to the Middle East
region = the Middle East
country = Yemen
era= Cold War
year_start = 1962
year_end = 1990
date_start=September 26
date_end=May 22
event_end=Reunification
p1 = Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
flag_p1 = Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.svg
s1 = Yemen
flag_s1 = Flag of Yemen.svg

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national_anthem = Royal Salute
official_languages = Arabic
capital = Sanaa
government_type = Republic
title_leader = President
leader1 =Ali Abdullah Saleh
title_deputy = Prime Minister
deputy1=Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani
stat_area1 = 195000
stat_pop1 = 7160981
stat_year1 = 1990
currency = North Yemeni rial
utc_offset = +3
calling_code = 967

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. 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 Conflict continued periodically until 1967 when Egyptian troops were withdrawn.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. In November 1989, the leaders of the YAR (Ali Abdullah Saleh) and the PDRY (Ali Salim al-Baidh) agreed on a draft unity constitution originally drawn up in 1981. The Republic of Yemen was declared on 22 May 1990. Saleh became President, and al-Baidh became Vice President.

See also

* History of Yemen
* Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen
* President of Yemen Arab Republic
* Prime Minister of Yemen Arab Republic

References