Yemen

Yemen is a country in the Middle East, formed, in 1990, from North Yemen, a part of the Ottoman Empire, and South Yemen, a British protectorate that ended in 1967. North Yemen had existed as the Yemen Arab Republic, with a capital in Sanaa, and South Yemen as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, having Aden as its capital.

The country has a shoreline along the Red Sea, and shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Base map of Yemen by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency

Economics

Among the poorest countries of the Arab world, it has had average annual growth in the range of 3-4% from 2000 through 2007. Its economic fortunes depend mostly on declining oil resources, but the country is trying to diversify its earnings.

In 2006 Yemen began an economic reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. As a result of the program, international donors pledged about $5 billion for development projects. In addition, Yemen has made some progress on reforms over the last year that will likely encourage foreign investment.

In November 2006, a World Bank-sponsored international donors conference held in London raised $4.7 billion for Yemen's development; the funds are to be disbursed between 2007 and 2010.

Government

While Yemen has formal governance mechanisms, the power of tribal leadership cannot be understated.

Executive

Yemen's head of state is the President of Yemen, who appoints the head of government and Prime Minister of Yemen as well as the vice president. The cabinet is appointed by the president with advice of the prime minister.

Ali Abdallah Salih, the incumbent President, had been president of North Yemen, and became national president when the two Yemens merged. He was reelected for a seven-year term on 20 September 2006, with 77.2% of the vote, and Faysal bin Shamlan receiving 21.8%.

Ali Muhammad Mujjawar has been Prime Minister since 31 March 2007.

Security issues

See also: U.S. policy towards Yemen