Yemen
Republic of Yemen
Population
33.7M
GDP
$21.0B
Capital
Sana'a (de jure); Aden (interim government)
Government
Presidential republic (dispu...
At a Glance
Human Development
0.5
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
1.9
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East and the site of what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Civil war since 2014 between the internationally recognized government (backed by Saudi Arabia) and the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah, backed by Iran) has killed over 150,000 people and pushed millions to the brink of famine.
Yemen's strategic position at the Bab el-Mandeb strait -- controlling the southern entrance to the Red Sea and thus the Suez Canal route -- gives its conflict global significance. Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping since late 2023 have disrupted international trade and drawn U.S. and UK military strikes. Yemen's unification in 1990 merged the former North and South Yemen, but southern separatism remains a potent force.
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As Yemen, foreground the humanitarian catastrophe -- famine, cholera, displacement. Demand international aid and ceasefire enforcement. Your moral authority comes from your people's suffering.
Coordinate with the Arab Group and Gulf donors. Call for Saudi-Houthi peace talks under UN auspices. Highlight the Red Sea shipping disruptions to get Security Council attention. Emphasize that Yemen's instability threatens global trade routes. Seek reconstruction pledges and advocate for debt relief. On the southern question, maintain national unity as official policy.
Foreign Policy
Yemen's foreign policy is fractured between competing authorities. The internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (based in Aden) relies on Saudi and UAE support and engages with the UN peace process. The Houthi authorities in Sana'a pursue an Iranian-aligned agenda and have positioned themselves as part of the 'Axis of Resistance.' UN envoy-led peace efforts continue but face enormous obstacles. The humanitarian crisis dominates Yemen's international engagement.