Located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is several weeks on the brink of civil war. This crisis is part of a turbulent history.
Recent History
The country has, for centuries, been led by an imam of the Shiite Zaidi religious sect to which subjected the tribes.
- This system lasted until the Imamate Imam 1962 Republican revolution is hiding in his stronghold of Saada, north-west of the country. Military settle in power, the country was renamed the Yemen Arab Republic ("North Yemen"). A civil war erupted and will last 8 years.
- In the south of the territory formerly under British rule, was created in 1967 the People's Republic of South Yemen ("Yemen of the South"), pro-Soviet orientation, which in 1970 became South Yemen, with Aden as its capital.
- In 1990, South Yemen and the Arab Republic of Yemen merged to form a single State, the Republic of Yemen. But that does not erase the divide between territories. Ali Abdullah Saleh became president of that state. He remained until 2012.
- In the wake of the Arab revolutions in 2011, the country experienced street protests that lead to the resignation of President Saleh in 2012 and the beginning of a transition process. Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi becomes president.
- In 2014, zaïdistes, grouped under the authority of Abdel Malek al-Houthi (hence the name "Houthis"), denouncing the federation plan proposed by the President, saying it limits their power. They react by walking on the capital Sanaa. They took control in September 2014.
- In 2015, the members of this militia houthie extend their influence on the country, forcing the President Mansour Hadi to flee and take refuge in Sanaa Aden.
Groups that oppose
The current crisis illustrates the deep division between people, a division fueled by the antagonism between the military-religious groups "Ansaruallah" and "Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula"
Ansarullah
This movement recruits its members from the Zaidi community, a branch of Shiism which represents a third of Yemen's population.
The Zaidi gather around a spiritual leader Badr Eddin al-Houthi, who was killed in 2004. That's when his brother Abdel Malek al-Houthi who succeeded him, continuing the fight against the government in Sana'a.
These Houthi militia suspected of wanting to overthrow the president and restore the royal regime of the Zaidi imamate abolished in 1962.
On the Shiite inspiration, houthie militia inspired Lebanese Hezbollah and is believed to have the support of Iran.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was born from the merger in January 2009 of the Saudi and Yemeni branches of the movement "Al Qaeda". AQPA is considered one of the most dangerous jihadist groups by the United States.
It is strongly present in the south and southeast where it multiplies anti-Shia attacks, attacks against the armed forces and kidnappings.
AQAP claimed responsibility on 7 January that decimated the drafting of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
Regional rivalries
The Zaidi, who make up the houthie militia are fierce opponents of Salafis and Wahhabis, the name of the legalistic doctrine practiced in Saudi Arabia.
The ideological and religious opposition has led to clashes in the 2000s Saudi army was then mobilized. In response, Iran has dispatched to the area of the warships.
Today Ryad see a very dim view of the progress of the houthie militia in Yemen, fearing the installation of a Shiite-inspired power on its southern border.
Are the Houthis really supported and equipped by Iran? Tehran denies.
The Americans argued for years to Yemen in the fight against Islamist al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. They conduct air operations using drones. But with the advance of houthie militia Washington has closed its embassy in Sana'a and evacuated its troops.
Faced with this instability, the UN has attempted to initiate a dialogue, which is now stalled. The United Nations can not but .
Figures
Population: 24.4 million (2013)
GDP: € 32.8 billion (2013)
GDP per capita: € 1,257
Area: 527,968 km2
Life expectancy: 63 years
Sources: UN, World Bank
Transparency International ranking on corruption: 161 (out of 171)
Reporters Without Borders ranked the freedom of the press: 167 (180)
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