The Eyes on Egypt and the Region group is providing breaking news and discussion of present events of the revolutionary conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East in its diary series Witnessing Revolution. Along with that initiative we are also providing background and analysis on the region to provide a context for the daily news. The previous diaries in this background series are:
A Region in Protest and Revolt
Will Arab Nationalism Shape the Course of the Reviolutions?
Saudi Arabia Background
Oman Background
We have looked at Saudi Arabia and the many national and international tensions of which it is the focus. It seems very useful to move to looking at the immediate neighbors of SA where revolutionary demonstrations and upheaval are already taking place. There are important political and ethnic interconnections that need to be explored.
With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of WWI Yemen gained independence as a monarchy ruled by the Hamidaddin family. North Yemen became established as a republic in 1962. Britain had long maintained a "protectorate" around the city of Aden as the control that the area affords to access of the narrow channel into the Red Sea leading to the southern entrance of the Suez canal. They held onto control until 1967. Upon their withdrawal the area became known as South Yemen with a communist form of government. North and South Yemen were united as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. They reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2000 for a delineation of the border.
Yemen is a country facing many problems and difficulties. From CIA World Factbook
Economy - overview:
Yemen is a low income country that is highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and 70% of government revenue. Yemen has tried to counter the effects of its declining oil resources by diversifying its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas as part of this diversification effort. In January 2010, the international community established the Friends of Yemen group that aims to support Yemen's efforts towards economic and political reform, and in August 2010 the IMF approved a three-year $370 million program to further this effort. Despite these ambitious endeavors, Yemen continues to face difficult long term challenges, including declining water resources and a high population growth rate.
Labor force - by occupation:
note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate:
35% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:
45.2% (2003)
Yemen also has an very young population with a high birth rate.
Religion
Religion in Yemen consists primarily of two principal Islamic religious groups: 52% of the Muslim population is Sunni and 46% is Shi'a. Sunnis are primarily Shafi'i but also include significant groups of Malikis and Hanbalis. Shi'is are primarily Zaidis and also have significant minorities of Twelver Shias and Musta'ali Western Isma'ili Shias (see Shia Population of the Middle East).
The Sunnis are predominantly in the south and southeast. The Zaidis are predominantly in the north and northwest whilst the Jafaris and Ismailis are in the main centers such as Sana'a and Ma'rib. There are mixed communities in the larger cities. Less than 1% of Yemenis are non-Muslim, adhering to Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and atheism.
Structurally Yemen has the appearance of a western style government with an elected president and an elected parliament. However, it just works out that the same man always gets elected president. Ali Abdullah Saleh was first elected president of North Yemen in 1978. He became president of the combined republic in 1990. He is still there. Demands that he step down are always at the top of the list of the recurring demonstrations. Saleh was an ally and backer of Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War. Yemen is on friendly terms with Somalia its neighbor across the strait. Since 2004, a civil war is being fought in Northern Yemen between Yemeni forces and Shiite Houthi rebels. There are also recurring tribal conflicts in Southern Yemen. There have been recurring diplomatic tensions with the US. There has been substantial out migration of Yemenis to Europe and the US.
Yemen was one of the first countries to see open protest when the present series of regional upheavals began shortly after the first of the year. They have been recurring regularly ever sense. The chants and cries have been remarkably simialr to those elsewhere: jobs, ending corruption, political freedoms and civil rights. Demonstrations have often turned violent with resulting deaths. So far the only significant concession that Saleh has made is a pledge to step down when his current term ends in 2013 rather than follow his plan to remain president for life. It has not mollified the protesters.