Chapter 3: Persian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula
Yemen: Overview
Facts
/ Geography, Climate / Cities
/ Posture Statement Excerpt
Leadership
/ System Essentials / Infrastructure
/ Population / Fielded
Forces
/ Table of Contents
MILNET Brief Yemeni Terrorism, 4/2005
Yemen has a narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains. Inland, it is characterized by dissected upland desert plains which slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula. There are mountains in the western part of the country. A salient geo-political feature of Yemen is that it controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes.
The climate is temperature with a seasonal monsoon in the mountainous regions in the western part of the country. It is extremely hot with minimal rainfall in the remainder of the country, particularly in the harsh eastern desert. The coast is hot and humid.
The Republic of Yemen (united since 1990) occupies a strategic position on the eastern side of the Bab el Mandeb waterway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Yemen's quest for democracy remains unique in the region and multiparty parliamentary elections were held in April 1993. However, serious internal struggles ensued, culminating in the outbreak of civil war in May 1994. Hostilities between the North and South continued for several months, further weakening the already fragile government. Eventual victory by the northern forces ended hopes for an effective coalition government.
Because of lingering connections to Saddam Hussein's regime, Yemen remains relatively isolated from its Gulf neighbors. The country's economic situation remains unstable and prospects for expanding its commerce in the region are slim until it can normalize relations with its neighbors.
Long-term prospects for development are directly tied to President Saleh's ability to reconcile differences between factions in the wake of the recent civil war. A stable domestic environment is a prerequisite to much needed foreign investment. Because of limited resources, Yemen's armed forces are dependent on financial aid, equipment, and advice from abroad. However, U.S. security assistance remains suspended since January 1991 for Yemen's support of Iraqi aggression.