“My country weeps within its own borders and across foreign lands; even on its own soil, it suffers the alienation of exile.”
Abdullah al-Baradouni
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Population
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70% Sunni
30% Zaidi (Shia Islam)
GDP (nominal)
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Political system
North Yemen gained independence in 1918, while South Yemen became independent in 1967 under a Marxist regime. The two states unified in 1990 under Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose centralized power rested on fragile tribal and military balances. Tensions led to a civil war in 1994, followed by multiple conflicts beginning in the 2000s (Houthi insurgency, southern separatist demands, Al-Qaeda presence).
Since 2014, the capture of Sanaa by the Iran-backed Houthis and the military intervention led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have triggered institutional collapse and a major humanitarian crisis. Despite a relative de-escalation since 2022, the country remains fragmented among several rival authorities.
Against the backdrop of regional escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the Houthis, allies of Tehran, are threatening to expand the conflict to the Red Sea by targeting maritime traffic and potentially closing the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key artery of global trade between Europe and Asia.
Rachad Al-Alimi, who has served as chairman of the Presidential Executive Council since 2022, leads a government recognized by the international community. A former minister and advisor to ex-President Mansour Hadi, he is seeking to unify anti-Houthi forces. Backed by Saudi Arabia, he is attempting to restore some semblance of stability to a country ravaged by civil war, but controls only part of the territory, with a large area, including Sanaa, remaining in Houthi hands. Resuming political dialogue remains his main challenge.
