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Basic Facts

The modern day Republic of Yemen was formed in 1990, when the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR), based in Sana’a and known as ‘North Yemen,’ ...

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Basic Facts

Political map

Yemen’s current political landscape is a mix of new, existing and rebranded groups competing for power in the tumultuous period following th...

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Political map

Main Actors

Today, the main warring parties in Yemen’s civil war are the Houthis, the internationally recognized government, the Southern Transitional C...

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Main Actors

War Chronicle

Tensions between a mounting Houthi rebellion and the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh reached a tipping point in summer 2004, sparking...

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War Chronicle

Terminology

Writing on Yemen? Here are some key names, titles, groups, acronyms and locations

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Terminology

Why it's Complicated

Understanding Yemen's war can be exceptionally difficult for Westerners. The following list is designed to familiarize readers with some of ...

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Why it's Complicated
Basic Facts
Political map
Main Actors
War Chronicle
Terminology
Why it's Complicated

Yemen
History

Most highlighted milestones of Yemen History

Abyssinian Occupation

525A.D

Abyssinian Occupation
525A.D - 575A.D

Yemen was under Abyssinian occupation until 575 AD following the revolution of Saif bin thi Yazan.

0525 - 0575

Marib dam collapse

558A.D

Marib dam collapse
558A.D - 558A.D

558 AD; Marib dam collapse

0558 - 0558

Zeyadi state

814A.D

Zeyadi state
814A.D - 824A.D

204 AH/814 AD The first state in Yemen after Islam, was established in Zabid.

0814 - 0824

Banu Yafar

824A.D

Banu Yafar
824A.D - 882A.D

214 AH/824 AD

0824 - 0882

Ismaili Movement

882A.D

Ismaili Movement
882A.D - 903A.D

269 - 290 AH/882-903 AD

0882 - 0903

Zaydi Hadawi

897A.D

Zaydi Hadawi
897A.D -

The establishment of the Zaydi Hadawi state led by Yahya bin al-Hussein al-Qassim al-Rasi in Sa’ada.

0897 -

Imamate of Al-Nasir Ahmad ibn ...

914A.D

Imamate of Al-Nasir Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Rasi
914A.D -

Imamate of al-Nasir Ahmad ibn Yahya al-Rasi until his death, after which the conflict between his sons over the imamate arose.

0914 -

Banu Najah

1011A.D

Banu Najah
1011A.D - 1011A.D

The fall of the Zeyadi state in Tihama and the rise of the state of Banu Najah until it fell at the hands of Ali bin Mahdi Al-Khareji.

1011 - 1011

The assassination of Ali bin a...

1025A.D

The assassination of Ali bin al-Fadl al-Hamyari.
1025A.D - 1025A.D

The assassination of Ali bin al-Fadl al-Hamyari.

1025 - 1025

Sulayhid Ismaili

1047A.D

Sulayhid Ismaili
1047A.D -

Sulayhid Ismaili state was led by Ali ibn Muhammad al-Sulayhi in Haraz before moving the capital to Jableh during the reign of his son Al-Mukarram

1047 -

Imamate of Ahmed bin Suleiman

1138A.D

Imamate of Ahmed bin Suleiman
1138A.D -

The Imamate of Ahmed bin Suleiman, known for his struggle with al-Matarafiya and the Yemeni tribes

1138 -

The death of Queen Arwa

1138A.D

The death of Queen Arwa
1138A.D -

The death of Queen Arwa bint Ahmed Al-Sulayhi

1138 -

Ayyubid entry into Yemen

1174A.D

Ayyubid entry into Yemen
1174A.D -

The Ayyubid entry into Yemen led by Turan Shah.

1174 -

The death of Imam Abdullah bin...

1217A.D

The death of Imam Abdullah bin Hamza
1217A.D -

The death of Imam Abdullah bin Hamza, the one who committed crimes against al- Matarifiya sect and fought the Ayyubids.

1217 -

Rasulid State

1229A.D

Rasulid State
1229A.D -

The establishment of the Rasulid state under the leadership of Omar bin Ali Muhammad Rasul

1229 -
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Yemen
Culture

A tour of the heritage of Yemen

Yemen cultural sites

Yemen has many historical, cultural, natural, and archaeological destinations that merit preservation for future generations. Here are examples of key heritage sites (constantly updated), most of which have been declared World Heritage Sites for their cultural and historical significance or natural beauty. These destinations are certainly places th...

Traditional Yemeni Dances

The researcher Hussain Bassiddiq has documented more than 60 types of Yemeni folk dances, which stem from three general dances, namely the zafin, sharh, and the bara, which are common throughout Yemen and may have different names from one region to another. Here is a partial list of some of the most prominent folk dances.

Yemeni musics

Here we will shed light on traditional urban lyrical songs, rural folk songs and dances that are widespread in Yemen. The term “color” is widely used in Yemen to express a particular genre. Yemeni singing, which is memorized and circulated orally, has not received sufficient academic study to adequately identify and label the differ...

Yemeni playlists

Ever wonder what Yemeni figures and politicians listen to from the diverse Yemeni music or where they get their inspiration from? Well, each month we ask key figures to share with us their playlist and their favorite songs so to get you closer to the taste of the local music and how the type of music they listen to defines them. Let's check out wha...
Yemen cultural sites
Traditional Yemeni Dances
Yemeni musics
Yemeni playlists
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Current status

Ongoing update on current humanitarian issue

Sunday / 6-11-2022

Humanitarian current status
Yemen is no stranger to policymakers and government chambers across the world. The country is facing a civil war, economic collapse and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis today.
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Experts
zoah

Why the “end the Yemen war” narrative is problematic

Why the “end the Yemen war” narrative is prob...

>Nadwa Aldawseri

Nadwa Aldawseri

Non-Resident Scholar
Yemen’s Clash of Two Revolutions

Yemen’s Clash of Two Revolutions

>Baraa Shaiban

Baraa Shaiban

Caseworker

A collection of opinions and analytical articles - constantly updating - for a number of writers and journalists interested in the Yemeni issue and writing in it.

Yemen’s tribes face the Houthis all alone

Yemen’s tribes face the Houthis all alone

>Nadwa Aldawseri

Nadwa Aldawseri

Non-Resident Scholar
How Outsiders Fighting for Marib are Reshaping the Governorate

How Outsiders Fighting for Marib are Reshapin...

>Casey Coombs

Casey Coombs

Researcher
The Human Cost of Remote Warfare in Yemen

The Human Cost of Remote Warfare in Yemen

>Baraa Shaiban

Baraa Shaiban

Caseworker
Yemen truce extended for two months, but warring sides far apart

Yemen truce extended for two months, but warr...

>Ali Al-Sakani

Ali Al-Sakani

Yemeni freelance journalist
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