The Yemen Arab Republic,
located in the southwestern
corner of the Arabian Peninsula, has an area of 75,290 sq. mi.
(195,000 sq. km.) and a population of 18.12 million.
Capital: San´a. The industries of Yemen, one of the world´s
poorest countries, are agriculture and local handicrafts. Qat
(a
mildly narcotic leaf), coffee, cotton and rock salt are
exported.
One of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East, Yemen
was once part of the
Minaean Kingdom and of the ancient Kingdom of Sheba, after which it
was captured successively
by Egyptians, Ethiopians and Romans. It was converted to the Moslem
religion in 628 AD and
administered as a caliphate until 1538, when it came under Turkish
occupation which was
maintained until 1918 when autonomy was achieved through
revolution.
On Feb. 1, 1958, Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic.
Yemen joined on March 8 in
an association known as the United Arab States. Syria withdrew from
the United Arab Republic on
Sept. 29, 1961, and on Dec. 26 Egypt dissolved its ties with Yemen
in the United Arab States.
Provoked by the harsh rule of Imam Mohammed al-Badr, last ruler of
the Kingdom of
Mutawwakkilite, the National Liberation Front seized control of the
government on Sept. 27, 1962.
Badr fled to Saudi Arabia.
An agreement for a constitution for a unified state was reached in
Dec. 1989 uniting the
Yemen Arab Republic with the People´s Democratic Republic of Yemen
into the Republic of
Yemen on May 22, 1990. Both currencies circulated for a number of
years, but the PDR dinar lost
legal tender status on June 11, 1996.
RULERS:
Imam Ahmad, AH1367-1382/1948-1962AD
Imam al-Badr, AH1382-1388/1962-1968AD
MONETARY SYSTEM:
1 Rial = 40 Buqshas
1 Rial = 100 Fils (from April 1, 1995).
Voir plus