#大有学问 #
Yemen is a country in southwest Asia, located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia, facing the Arabian and Red Seas. Yemen is a country with a rich history and culture, once home to the ancient kingdoms of Sheba, Himiyar, Himira, and more.
The history of Yemen can be divided into the following stages:
- Antiquity: From the 23rd century BC to 275 BC, Yemen experienced the rise and fall of several kingdoms such as the Katani Semites, Sheba, Main, Saba, and Hadramau. Based on agriculture and trade, these kingdoms have close ties with Egypt, Ethiopia, India and other regions, and Yemen is known as an important stop on the "Spice Route". Yemen's civilization has unique achievements in architecture, water conservancy, writing, religion and other aspects.
- Middle Ages: From the 7th century to the 16th century AD, Yemen gradually embraced Islam and became part of the Arab Islamic caliphate. During this period, three major dynasties emerged in Yemen: the Hadi, Ayyubid and Rasuri dynasties. The Hadi dynasty was founded by Zayd Islamists, centered on Saada, and established a lasting regime in northern Yemen. The Ayyubid dynasty, led by the Kurds, once ruled Egypt and Syria, occupied Yemen at the end of the 12th century, and had a long conflict with the Hadi dynasty. The Rasuri dynasty, led by the Turks, was established in the early 13th century and replaced the Ayyubid dynasty as the dominant power in southern and western Yemen. All three dynasties promoted Yemen's economic, cultural, and scientific development, while also facing threats from the Mongols, Crusaders, and European colonists.
- Modern history: From the 17th to the 20th century, Yemen experienced invasion and domination by the Ottoman and British empires, as well as struggles for resistance and independence. The Ottoman Empire twice occupied northern Yemen and fought a long war with the Zayd imam state. The British Empire occupied the port of Aden and the southern coastal area from the 19th century, and established the Aden Colony and Aden Protectorate. After World War I, the Ottoman Empire withdrew from Yemen and the Zaid imam established the kingdom of Mutawakilia.
From 1990 to the present, Yemen has experienced a process of unification, civil war, democratization, counter-terrorism, division and turmoil. On 22 May 1990, South and North Yemen were declared unified as the Republic of Yemen, with Ali Abdullah Saleh, former President of North Yemen, inaugurated as President and former Supreme Leader of South Yemen, Ali Salim Bedeh, as Vice President¹. However, the political, economic and social problems of reunification soon became apparent, and the contradictions between the North and the South intensified, leading to the outbreak of a civil war in May 1994¹. Southern leaders declared secession and established the Democratic Republic of Yemen, but it was not internationally recognized. After more than two months of fighting, the Northern Army captured the southern capital of Aden, ending the civil war¹. President Saleh consolidated his power while advancing a number of political reforms, including a new constitution, multiparty elections, and a bicameral parliament¹. Yemen also participated in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War, cooperating with countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia against terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida¹.
- In 2011, large-scale anti-government demonstrations broke out in Yemen demanding Saleh's ouster. The demonstrations were influenced by the Arab Spring movement and reflected deep-seated problems in Yemen, including poverty, corruption, unemployment, and armed conflict¹. Saleh traveled to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment after being injured in demonstrations, during which a transfer of power agreement was reached with the opposition. In February 2012, Saleh officially resigned and Vice President Abd Raab Mansour Hadi took over as President and began a two-year political transition¹. In January 2014, Yemen adopted a new draft federal constitution that divides the country into six federal regions¹. However, the draft was opposed by some political factions and regions, notably the Houthis and the Southern Movement.
- The Houthis is an anti-government group of Shia Muslims active mainly in northern Yemen¹. There has been a long conflict between the Houthis and government and Sunni forces, with six wars since 2004¹. In September 2014, the Houthis captured the capital, Sana'a, and forced President Hadi to dissolve the government and parliament and sign a peace and partnership agreement¹. In January 2015, the Houthis dissolved parliament and formed the Supreme Council of Revolution, effectively controlling much of northern and central Yemen¹. President Hadi fled Sana'a to Aden and declared the Houthi operations an illegal coup¹. In March, the Houthis attacked Aden, forcing Hadi to flee Yemen again for Saudi Arabia¹. Saudi Arabia and other countries then formed a multinational coalition to launch air strikes against the Houthis and blockade Yemen's sea and air ports¹. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2216, demanding that the Houthis withdraw from the occupied areas, restore recognition of the Hadi government, and support the UN-brokered peace process¹.
- Since 2015, Yemen's civil war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and threatened tens of millions of people with famine and disease¹. The United Nations has called the Yemen crisis the worst humanitarian disaster in the world today¹. Numerous ceasefires and negotiations have failed to make substantial progress, and differences remain between the two sides on key issues such as the distribution of political power, military security arrangements, and economic reconstruction¹. In addition, the Yemeni civil war involves the interests and struggles of regional and international powers, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and the United States¹.
Image source: Web
Image source: Web
The current situation in Yemen is very grim. Yemen could recover if the war stops now, but if the conflict continues into 2030, it will kill 1.3 million people, and most of the deaths will be due to the destruction of basic services and livelihoods caused by the war, according to a UN report¹. Currently, 80% of Yemen's population depends on aid and protection, of which 14.3 million are in urgent need¹. Yemen also faces multiple threats such as terrorism, floods and drought². There have been ongoing confrontations between government forces and NTC forces³, while the Houthis have exchanged fire with the Saudi-led coalition and attacked oil installations⁴. While the U.S. envoy called for a permanent ceasefire and praised the extended truce between the Houthis and the government³, a peaceful solution remains elusive.
- Yemen is a poor country with a GDP per capita of only $890⁴, poor infrastructure, low levels of education and health.
- Yemen's population is growing rapidly, reaching 29.8 million people⁶, but the land area is only 528,000 square kilometers⁶, and the resource and environmental pressure is very high.
- The complex social structure of Yemen, with differences and confrontations between different religious factions, tribes, regions and political forces, makes it difficult to achieve national unity and stability.
- The human rights situation in Yemen is alarming, with discrimination and violence against women and children, child marriage, gender-based violence and child soldiers.
- Yemen's geopolitical location is sensitive, it is the gateway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, across the strait from Africa⁶, and is subject to intervention and influence by neighboring countries and major powers.
Image source: Web
Image source: Web
Image source: Web
(1) History of Yemen - Wikipedia. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B9%9F%E9%97%A8%E5%8E%86%E5%8F%B2.
(2) Yemen - Wikipedia. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B9%9F%E9%97%A8.
(3) Reunification of Yemen - Wikiwand. https://www.wikiwand.com/zh-hans/%E4%B9%9F%E9%96%80%E7%B5%B1%E4%B8%80.
(4) Saudi Armed Intervention in Yemen - Wikipedia. https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/%E6%B2%99%E5%9C%B0%E6%AD%A6%E8%A3%9D%E5%B9%B2%E6%B6%89%E4%B9%9F%E9%96%80.