South Yemen

South Yemen, officially called the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, was a country in the southern part of what is now Yemen. It existed from 1967 until it joined with the Yemen Arab Republic in 1990 to form the country of Yemen today. It was the only communist state in the Middle East and the Arab world.

The area that became South Yemen started as a British colony called Aden and part of a protectorate. In the 1960s, people there fought against British rule and in 1967, they formed the People's Republic of Southern Yemen. In 1969, leaders who followed Marxist-Leninist ideas took control and turned the country into a socialist state. They called it the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.

South Yemen built strong friendships with countries like Cuba, East Germany, North Korea, China, and the Soviet Union. Even though they tried to bring peace, there was a short civil war in 1986. Finally, in 1990, South Yemen joined with the north to become one country, Yemen. Its main city and largest town was Aden.

Background

British arrival in Yemen

The British first interacted with Yemen in 1799 when they sent a naval force to the island of Perim during the French invasion of Egypt and Syria. They wanted to stop French communication with India through the Red Sea. Perim had no water, so troops stayed in Aden with the Sultan of Lahej. In 1802, a treaty was made with the Sultan.

Later, the British needed a place to refuel their steamships traveling from the Suez Canal to British Raj. They tried to buy Socotra but failed. In 1838, after a ship wreck near Aden, the British forced the Sultan of Lahej to give them Aden. On 19 January 1839, the British East India Company landed troops in Aden to protect it from pirates and control British trade to India.

After taking Aden, the British made agreements with nearby sheikhdoms and sultanates. These agreements helped the British control the area without direct rule. By 1914, the British had treaties with almost all leaders in the region.

Partitioning Yemen

In 1914, Britain and the Ottomans split Arabia into two parts during the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913. The northwest was Ottoman, and the southeast was British. When First World War began in 1914, the Ottomans tried to take Aden Protectorate but were pushed out by the British. After the war, Britain made Aden a Crown Colony in 1937, taking full control from local rulers.

Beginning of the end of British rule in Yemen

In 1952, ideas of Arab nationalism spread across the Arab world. In 1959, some states formed the Federation of the Emirates of South Arabia. By 1963, this became the Federation of South Arabia, including Aden. Some areas like Hadhramaut did not join. In 1962, a coup in Kingdom of Yemen created the Yemen Arab Republic, inspiring groups in Aden to form the National Liberation Front and the Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen. These groups had different supporters based on where they lived.

History

Main article: History of Yemen

Decolonisation and NLF seizure of power

Main articles: Aden Emergency and Withdrawal from Aden

In 1963, tribes in Radfan rose up against British rule, joining the National Liberation Front (NLF) to fight for independence through guerrilla warfare. The NLF used hit-and-run tactics to wear down British forces. By 1963, the conflict reached Aden, leading to a state of emergency. British forces responded with bombing in Radfan, but the insurgency continued.

By 1965, many western protectorates had fallen to the NLF. In 1966, Britain announced plans to leave Aden by 1968. The British departure date was set for November 1967. After Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War in 1967, anti-colonial feelings grew stronger. Attacks on British forces increased, and the NLF gained support.

In June 1967, the NLF took control of Crater from British forces. British troops recaptured the city, but the battle was seen as a major victory for Arab forces. The British decided to leave Aden, and on November 30, 1967, South Yemen became independent.

Independence

The British left Aden on November 30, 1967, ending 128 years of colonial rule. South Yemen joined the United Nations on December 14, 1967. The new government faced many challenges, including a struggling economy and the departure of many workers and businesses.

On December 11, 1967, the new government redistributed land to end tribal influences. In June 1969, a political change led to new leaders taking control.

Reforms and the establishment of a Marxist-Leninist state

Main article: Corrective Move

See also: South Yemen–Soviet Union relations

In 1969, a Marxist group took control of South Yemen, forming the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY). They created a single political party, the Yemeni Socialist Party, and aligned with the Soviet Union. The new government made many changes, including nationalizing businesses and changing laws to support equality.

The government introduced new laws to support women, end old practices like polygamy and child marriage, and provide equal rights. They also ended slavery and changed the education system. The country built strong ties with the Soviet Union, which helped develop its military.

1986 Civil War

In January 1986, a conflict broke out in Aden between different political groups. The struggle lasted over a month and caused many casualties. One leader was removed from power, and another disappeared. Many people fled to the north.

Unification

Main article: Yemeni unification

In the late 1980s, changes in the Soviet Union led to political reforms in South Yemen. In 1988, South Yemen and North Yemen agreed to reduce tensions and discuss unification. By 1990, the two parts of Yemen joined together to form a single country.

Government and politics

South Yemen was a country that followed ideas from Marxism-Leninism. It was led first by the National Front, which later became the Yemen Socialist Party.

Government

The main law-making group was called the Supreme People's Council. People voted for its members every five years. The head of state was chosen by this Council for five years. Only one political party, the Yemen Socialist Party, was allowed.

In 1978, new rules were made so that everyone aged 18 or older could vote. Women were allowed to vote too. People had to be at least 24 years old to run for office.

The group that ran the government was called the Council of Ministers. Local groups also helped make decisions.

The highest court was the Supreme Court of South Yemen. There were also other courts in different areas.

Foreign relations

South Yemen was the only country in the Middle East that followed Marxism-Leninism. It got help from the USSR and East Germany. East Germany stayed until 1990.

South Yemen supported groups that shared its beliefs in the area. It helped some groups in Oman and Ethiopia. This sometimes caused problems with nearby countries.

Relations with Saudi Arabia and Oman were not good. The United States did not have good relations with South Yemen from 1979 until the countries joined together.

Relations with North Yemen

See also: First Yemenite War, Second Yemenite War, and NDF Rebellion

Unlike some other divided countries, North and South Yemen stayed mostly friendly. There were some fights in 1972, but they agreed to work toward joining together. Plans to join were stopped in 1979 but were talked about again in 1979 in Kuwait.

In 1980, the leader of South Yemen left, and his successor took a calmer approach to North Yemen and Oman.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Yemen § Governorates of South Yemen

After South Yemen became independent, it was split into six areas called governorates. From 1967 to 1978, these areas were named with numbers. Later, they got new names. The islands like Kamaran, Perim, and Socotra were also part of South Yemen.

Geography

South Yemen was located at the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It had a wedge-shaped land that narrowed toward the Bab al-Mandab strait, an important waterway between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. South Yemen also included the island of Perim in the strait and the island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea. The country covered about 208,106 square kilometres, but its borders with North Yemen and Saudi Arabia were not fully set.

The land in South Yemen was rough and dry, which influenced how people lived there. Most people lived in the western areas near Lahij. The landscape featured mountain chains that followed the Red Sea coast, with peaks rising over 2,000 metres. These mountains were formed from volcanic activity and included different types of rocks.

Demographics

Living standards

Even though South Yemen had a weak economy, the government made sure that everyone had basic needs met. They created a system to support all citizens, improved fairness in income, reduced corruption, and expanded health and education services. As a result, people generally had a stable and adequate standard of living.

Religion

The people of Yemen slowly became Muslim over many years. Although a leader from Persia became Muslim in 631 AD, most people did not change their beliefs right away. For many years, Islam was mainly practiced in cities, while many areas stayed separate from the wider Islamic world.

The rugged, mountainous landscape of the region helped protect local traditions and made it hard for outside influences to change daily life. Even after Islam spread, many old customs and laws stayed important. Tribal loyalties remained strong, often more important than religion or national identity. Conflicts between different Islamic groups also made it hard for a single Islamic identity to form. As a result, many people followed both Islamic teachings and their own tribal laws.

South Yemen had a mixed approach to religion. The government publicly supported Islam as the state religion but also worked to reduce the role of religion in everyday matters. They replaced religious laws with secular laws in many areas and limited the power of religious leaders.

Education

South Yemen celebrated "National Science Day" on September 10. In 1985, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that education in South Yemen was among the best in the Arabian Peninsula, with about 98% of people able to read and write.

Sports

In 1976, the South Yemen national football team took part in the AFC Asian Cup. They played against Iraq and Iran but did not win any matches. South Yemen also tried to qualify for the World Cup in 1986 but did not succeed. Their first international match was in 1965 during the 4th Arab Games, and their last was in 1989 against Guinea. The team stopped playing after North and South Yemen joined together in 1990 to form the modern country of Yemen.

In 1988, South Yemen sent five athletes to the Summer Olympics in Seoul but did not win any medals. This was the only time they participated until unification in 1990.

Women's rights

Main article: Women in Yemen

See also: General Union of Yemeni Women

Under the socialist government, women's rights were seen as the most advanced in the region. Starting in 1968, the government followed ideas from Marxist-Leninist principles and worked to improve women's status. By 1978, they had made many changes to support women.

Laws were changed to give women more rights, such as limiting polygamy, ending unilateral divorce, and ensuring women could keep their children after divorce. Women also gained the right to choose whom they married and when. The government encouraged women to join areas usually reserved for men, like the military, courts, and politics. Education and jobs were open to all girls and women, and big efforts were made to teach everyone to read and write. These actions helped South Yemen have one of the highest rates of women working in the Arab world at that time.

Economy

During British rule, economic development in South Yemen was mostly in the city of Aden, focusing on the port and British military bases. After the British left, the country had little industry or mineral wealth until the mid-1980s when important petroleum reserves were found near Shibam and Mukalla. Foreign aid was small because the British government did not provide much help, and the Soviet Union only gave US$152 million from 1969 to 1980.

South Yemen worked to build a modern government system and reduce unfair land ownership. Its main income came from farming fruits, cereal crops, cattle, sheep, and fishing. The government guaranteed jobs in farming for people in the countryside and set up group farms, but these did not always work as well as farms run by groups of people together.

Economic policy

South Yemen had few natural resources, making economic growth hard. But modest oil reserves were found after the country joined together in 1990. Over time, economic policies changed from focusing on the government to encouraging partnerships between private and public groups. By the late 1980s, industries such as making plastics, batteries, cigarettes, matches, tomato paste, dairy products, and fish cans were present in Aden and around Al Mukalla.

The government made rules to protect workers, especially women, by not letting them work at night or in dangerous jobs. Workers were also ensured fair pay. Trade unions were controlled by the government and helped enforce these rules.

Oil

A few months after the civil war of 1986, oil was discovered in the Shabwah Governorate in late 1986, which was a big change for the country. For many years, South Yemen relied on help from other countries and money sent home by citizens working abroad. The oil discovery was made by a Soviet company and came during a time of tension between countries.

Exploration for oil had been going on for many years with little success. But in 1986, high-quality oil was found in western Shabwa. By 1987, estimates suggested about 1 billion barrels of oil were present. Plans were made to build pipelines and increase oil production. This discovery was seen as a way to reduce reliance on outside help and improve life for South Yemen’s around 2.4 million people. However, political fights and unrest made it hard to manage the new oil wealth.

Airlines

The following airlines operated from the PDRY:

• Alyemda – Democratic Yemen Airlines (1961–1996). Later joined Yemenia, the airline of the former YAR.
• The Brothers Air Services was started by Sayid Zein A. Baharoon and lasted only a short time.

Nostalgia

Some people in southern Yemen feel a strong connection to the past, remembering the time when South Yemen was its own country. They think about the good things from that time, like free healthcare and good schools. This feeling helps some people today want to be separate from the rest of Yemen.

Younger people who were not born when South Yemen existed also feel this connection. They are unhappy with how things are now and wish for better social and political conditions.