Why Yemen Could Split Into Two Countries

Summary

The video provides background on Yemen's history of division and conflict between North and South Yemen before unification in 1990. It explains how the Houthis emerged and gained control of much of the country, leading to civil war. Despite a fragile ceasefire in 2022, tensions remain between the Houthis, the Saudi-backed government, and southern separatists. The current crisis in the Red Sea risks restarting the civil war. The video also promotes the documentary series Modern Conflict on Nebula streaming service.

Takeaways

• 😀 Yemen has a long history of division and conflict between north and south Yemen before unification in 1990
• 🤔 The current crisis threatens to restart Yemen's civil war between the Iran-backed Houthis who control the north and the Saudi-backed government in the south
• 😮 The Houthis have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea, impacting global trade and worrying other countries in the region
• 😠 Yemen has been mired in conflict for decades between competing factions and external powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran
• 🤨 Despite a fragile ceasefire since 2022, Yemen remains in a dire humanitarian crisis with millions in need of aid
• 😟 South Yemen separatists want to split from the north again due to feelings of neglect, adding complexity
• 😣 Unifying Yemen under one faction seems unlikely given the deep divisions, but splitting again may not resolve tensions either
• 😬 The Red Sea crisis risks plunging Yemen back into full-scale civil war between the Houthis, southern separatists, Saudi-backed government forces
• 😐 External powers like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran further complicate the conflict by backing different sides
• 🤔 Broader geopolitics mean peace in Yemen not just up to Yemenis, international cooperation key to ending crisis

Q & A

What are the Houthis and what territory do they control?

The Houthis are a rebel group that originated from the Zaidi tribes in northern Yemen. As of 2022, they control most of Yemen's populated eastern territory.

What caused the current crisis in the Red Sea?

The current crisis began when the Houthis started attacking maritime traffic passing through the Red Sea. This threatens to restart the civil war which has been on hold since the April 2022 ceasefire.

How did North and South Yemen form originally?

North Yemen originated from the Yemen Arab Republic formed after a coup in the 1960s. South Yemen was the British colony of Aden which achieved independence in the 1960s.

Why did North and South Yemen unify in 1990?

They unified with the hope of jointly developing newly discovered oil fields and improving economic prospects. North Yemen effectively took over South Yemen which was weaker.

Who was Ali Abdullah Saleh and what was his role?

Saleh was president of North Yemen from 1978 and of unified Yemen from 1990-2011. He held power through patronage and alliances until forced out by protests in 2011.

How did the Houthis come to power?

The Houthis fought and defeated the government of President Hadi which was weakened by infighting and lack of Saudi/UAE support. They took control of most of Yemen's populated areas.

Who are the Southern Transitional Council separatists?

The STC are a separatist group backed by UAE that wants South Yemen to secede. They temporarily took Aden but joined a unity government in 2020.

What led to the 2022 ceasefire agreement?

The ceasefire was negotiated between the Houthis, Hadi's Saudi-backed government, and the STC separatists after years of stalemate.

Could South Yemen become independent again?

It's unlikely soon, since no side wants outright separation. But a unified Yemen under Houthi control could prompt eventual separation.

What's the current outlook for resolving the conflict?

A lasting unified Yemen seems unlikely given disagreements. But South Yemen independence remains distant given opposition.