Yemen

Japanese: イエメン

◎Official name: Republic of Yemen al-Jumhuriya al-Yamaniya/Republic of Yemem. ◎Area: 555,000 ^km2 . ◎Population: 24.26 million (2010). ◎Capital: Sanaa (1.71 million, urban area population, 2004). ◎Residents: Mostly Arab. Others are of Indian descent. ◎Religion: Islam (state religion). ◎Language: Arabic (official language). ◎Currency: Yemeni Rial. ◎Head of State: President, Abdo Rabu Mansour al-Hadi (born 1945). ◎Prime Minister: Khaled Mahfoud Abdullah BAHAH. ◎Constitution: Revised constitution promulgated in October 1994, revised in February 2001. ◎Parliament - Unicameral (301 seats, 4-year term, extended to 6 years in 2001). ◎GDP - $26.6 billion (2008). ◎GNP per capita - $280 (1998). ◎Proportion of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing - 47.4% (2003). ◎Life expectancy - 61.8 years for men, 64.5 years for women (2013). ◎Infant mortality rate - 57‰ (2010). ◎Literacy rate - 62.4% (2009) ＊＊Republic in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. Its Arabic name is Yaman. It was established in 1990 by the unification of the Arab Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen). Most of the country is barren, but the 2000m-class mountainous area has the most favorable climate in the Arabian Peninsula, where dry agriculture is practiced and grains and fruits are produced. The specialty product is Mocha coffee, which is shipped from the port of Mocha. A fertile land that has been called "Happy Arabia" since ancient times. North Yemen gained de facto independence under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire in 1911, and in 1934 signed a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia, with whom it had been in conflict over border demarcation, becoming an independent kingdom. A republic was established in September 1962 in a coup d'état by anti-monarchy forces. Meanwhile, Aden, the former capital of South Yemen, has long flourished as a transit trade port. The British East India Company occupied Aden in 1839, and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 further increased Aden's commercial and strategic value, and in 1937 Britain made it a direct colony. After World War II, a struggle for independence against Britain was fought, and in November 1967, South Yemen gained independence as the People's Republic of South Yemen. After the unification of North and South in May 1990, a civil war broke out in 1994 due to conflict between the leaders of the former North and South, but the former North was victorious. In April 1997, the first general election since the end of the civil war was held, and the General National Assembly made great strides. In 1999, the first direct presidential election was held. Natural gas fields were discovered in 2007, and production began in 2009, but the GDP per capita is the poorest in the Middle East. The unemployment rate is close to 40%, and there are many migrant workers. [Since 2011] In January 2011, dissatisfaction with President Saleh's dictatorship erupted, with proposals for constitutional amendments that would pave the way for a lifelong presidency and the transfer of power to his son. Demonstrations demanding a change of government, which began with demonstrations by students at Sanaa University, spread across the country in February and March. The president's side deployed security forces, and there were repeated shootings at demonstrators, resulting in many deaths and injuries. The anti-government demonstrations became even larger, and in April, the opposition coalition proposed a plan to transfer power to the president, but the president rejected it. The Gulf Cooperation Council, consisting of six countries including Saudi Arabia, presented a plan to resolve the situation (the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative) to encourage the president to step down early, to both the president and the opposition coalition, and attempted to mediate, with the United States expressing its support. The United Nations also unanimously adopted a Security Council resolution urging the president to sign the GCC Initiative. President Saleh rejected the plan, and the opposition coalition also rejected the plan. The situation, which continued to pit security forces against anti-government forces and anti-government tribes, resulted in many deaths and began to resemble a civil war. Under these circumstances, the government's ability to maintain security in the regions was weakened, and the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Shiite Houthi faction (following the Zaydi sect of Shiites, an armed group led by tribal leader Abdulmalik Houthi, based in the north of Yemen, and effectively controlling Saada Governorate in the north), and the Southern Movement (commonly known as Hiraq, advocating secession and independence for the south (formerly South Yemen)) gained power. Furthermore, in the south, the Islamic extremist armed group affiliated with Al-Qaeda (AQAP) took advantage of the chaos and became a serious threat, entering into a state of combat with the Yemeni army. In November, President Saleh finally accepted the Gulf Cooperation Council's mediation proposal on the condition that he be granted immunity from prosecution and announced his resignation, and Vice President Hadi appointed former Foreign Minister Basindwa, recommended by the opposition coalition, as prime minister of the interim cabinet. In February 2012, an election was held under the interim cabinet, and former Vice President Hadi was given the nod of confidence as interim president, finally bringing the situation under control. Tawakkol Karman, a female journalist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (2011) and led the anti-government demonstrations in 2011, declared her support for President Hadi. In 2013, a national dialogue was started to discuss the framework of a new constitution, with broad participation from all walks of life (including some from the Shiite Houthi group and the Southern Movement (Hirak)). In light of the end of the national dialogue in 2014, it was agreed to move from a centralized system to a federal system, and it was decided to reorganize the country into six states (four in the north and two in the south). Furthermore, a constitutional drafting committee was established to draft a new constitution. The various political parties signed the Peace and National Partnership Agreement, agreeing to a ceasefire and the formation of a new cabinet under Prime Minister Bahaha. [Civil War] However, since February 2014, Houthi armed groups have advanced into Amran and Jouf governorates, expanding their influence in northern Yemen. In August, they protested against the government's proposal for a new constitution introducing a federal system, and demanded that the government revise the draft constitution and allocate government posts. In response to the Houthis' call, anti-government demonstrations broke out calling for the end of the fuel subsidy abolition and the resignation of the entire cabinet. In September, Yemeni government forces and security forces clashed on a large scale in Sanaa, and the Houthis occupied government and military facilities in Sanaa. The Houthis have seized power and are working to establish their own government. Meanwhile, in the south of the country, the Southern Movement, which seeks independence, declared its intention to separate from Yemen, and Yemen fell into a state of civil war. Furthermore, in March 2015, the Houthis used force to seize the presidential palace, President Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, and the government moved its base to Aden. The reason behind the Houthis' rapid rise to power is the support of Iran, a major Shiite power, which is seeking to expand its influence in the Arabian Peninsula. A coalition of the willing, consisting of Sunni countries led by Saudi Arabia, has launched airstrikes against the Houthis, raising concerns that the situation could escalate into a war that will engulf the entire Middle East. Meanwhile, the Islamic extremist group AQAP has taken advantage of this turmoil to expand, and since the Houthis rose to power in 2014, they have stepped up their terrorist activities in Sanaa and elsewhere in an effort to counter the Houthis, expanding their influence.
Related article: Gulf of Aden

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

◎正式名称−イエメン共和国al-Jumhuriya al-Yamaniya／Republic of Yemem。◎面積−55万5000km²。◎人口−2426万人（2010）。◎首都−サナアSana（171万人，都市域人口，2004）。◎住民−大部分がアラブ。他にインド系。◎宗教−イスラム（国教）。◎言語−アラビア語（公用語）。◎通貨−イエメン・リヤールYemen Rial。◎元首−大統領，アブドラッボ・マンスール・ハーディAbdo Rabu Mansour al-Hadi（1945年生れ）。◎首相−ハーリド・マフフーズ・アブドッラー・バハーハKhaled Mahfoud Abdullah BAHAH。◎憲法−1994年10月改正憲法公布，2001年２月改正。◎国会−一院制（定員301，任期４年，2001年６年に延長）。◎GDP−266億ドル（2008）。◎１人当りGNP−280ドル（1998）。◎農林・漁業就業者比率−47.4％（2003）。◎平均寿命−男61.8歳，女64.5歳（2013）。◎乳児死亡率−57‰（2010）。◎識字率−62.4％（2009）　　　　＊　　　　＊アラビア半島南西部の共和国。アラビア名はヤマン。イエメン・アラブ共和国（北イエメン）とイエメン人民民主共和国（南イエメン）が1990年に統合して成立した共和国。大部分は不毛の地であるが，2000m級の山地はアラビア半島で最も気候に恵まれ，乾燥農業が行われ，穀物，果実を産する。特産物はモカ・コーヒーでモカ港から積み出される。古来〈幸福のアラビア〉と呼ばれた肥沃の地。　北イエメンは1911年オスマン帝国の宗主権のもとに事実上の独立を得，1934年には国境画定で紛争を起こしていたサウジアラビアと和平協定を結び，独立王国となった。1962年９月王制反対派によるクーデタで共和国が樹立された。一方，南イエメンの旧首都アデンは中継貿易港として古くから栄えた。1839年イギリス東インド会社がアデンを占領，1869年のスエズ運河開通などでアデンの商業・戦略的価値はいっそう高まり，1937年英国はアデンを直轄植民地とした。第２次大戦後，対英独立闘争が戦われ，1967年11月南イエメン人民共和国として独立した。1990年５月の南北統一後，旧南北指導者間の対立から1994年に内戦が起きたが，旧北側が勝利した。1997年４月，内戦終結後初の総選挙が行われ，国民全体会議が躍進。1999年，初の直接選挙による大統領選挙が実施された。2007年天然ガス田が発見され2009年生産を開始したが，一人当たりのGDPは中東でも最貧。失業率が40％に近く出稼ぎも多い。〔2011年以降〕　2011年１月，終身大統領制に道を開く憲法改正案や息子への権限委譲などサレハ大統領の独裁に対する不満が噴出，サナア大学の学生たちのデモからはじまった政権交代要求のデモが，２月，３月に全土に拡大。大統領側は治安部隊を投入，デモ隊への発砲事件が続き多数の死傷者が出た。反政府デモはさらに大規模化し，４月，野党連合は大統領に権限委譲計画を提案したが，大統領は拒否。サウジアラビアなど６ヵ国の〈湾岸協力会議〉が大統領の早期退陣を促す事態収拾案（湾岸協力会議GCCイニシアティブ）を大統領と野党連合双方に提示し調停をこころみ，米国も支持を表明した。国連もGCCイニシアティブへの署名を大統領に促す安保理決議を全会一致で採択した。サレハ大統領は早期退陣を否定，野党連合も収拾案を拒否，治安部隊と反政府勢力，反政府部族が対峙する情勢が続き多数の死者が出るなど内戦の様相を呈しはじめた。こうしたなか，地方での政府の治安維持能力の低下を招き，イスラム過激派組織〈アラビア半島のアル・カーイダ〉（AQAP），シーア派系勢力フーシ派（シーア派のザイド派を信奉。部族指導者アブドルマリク・フーシが率いる武装組織でイエメン北部が本拠。北部のサアダ県等を実質的に支配），南部運動（通称ヒラーク，南部（旧南イエメン）の分離・独立を主張）が勢力を拡大。さらに南部で，この混乱に乗じるかたちでアル・カーイダ系のイスラム過激派武装勢力（AQAP）が台頭し重大な脅威となり，イエメン軍と戦闘状態に入った。11月，サレハ大統領は，最終的に訴追免除などを条件に湾岸協力会議の調停案を受け入れ退陣を表明，ハーディ副大統領は，野党連合の推薦するバシンドワ元外相を暫定内閣の首相に指名。2012年２月暫定内閣のもとで行われた選挙で，ハーディ前副大統領が，暫定大統領に信任され，事態はようやく収拾の方向に動いた。2011年の反政府デモを先導してきた，ノーベル平和賞（2011年）受賞の女性ジャーナリスト，タワックル・カルマンは，ハーディ大統領支持を表明している。2013年，国民各層からの幅広い参加（シーア派系勢力フーシ派や南部運動（ヒラーク）の一部も参加）を得て新憲法の骨格を協議する国民対話が開始。2014年国民対話の終了を踏まえて，中央集権制から連邦制への移行等が合意され，全土を６州（北部４州と南部２州）に再編することを決定。さらに新憲法案を起草する憲法起草委員会が発足した。諸政党は，〈平和・国民パートナーシップ合意〉に署名し，停戦及びバハーハ首相の新内閣の発足等に合意した。〔内戦〕　しかし，2014年２月以降，フーシ派武装組織がアムラン県やジャウフ県に進出し，イエメン北部で勢力を拡大。８月，政府が連邦制を導入する新憲法案を示したことなどに反発し，政府に憲法案の修正や政府ポストの割り当てなどを要求。フーシ派の呼びかけに応じ，燃料補助金廃止の撤廃及び内閣総辞職を求める反政府デモが発生。９月には，イエメン政府軍・治安部隊とフーシ派武装組織がサナア市で大規模な衝突となり，フーシ派がサナア市の政府機関・国軍関連施設を占拠した。フーシ派が権力を掌握し，独自の政府樹立を進めている。一方，同国南部では独立をめざす南部運動がイエメンからの分離を宣言，イエメンは内戦状態に陥った。さらにフーシ派は2015年３月，大統領官邸を武力で制圧し，ハーディ大統領はサウジアラビアに脱出し，政府は拠点をアデンに移した。フーシ派が急速に力をつけた背景には，アラビア半島地域での影響力拡大を狙うシーア派の大国イランからの援助がある。サウジアラビアを中心とするスンニ派の周辺国有志連合はフーシ派に対して空爆を開始，事態は中東地域全体を巻き込む戦乱に発展する懸念が出てきている。他方，この混乱に乗じて拡大したイスラム過激派AQAPは，フーシ派が台頭した2014年以降，これと対抗する形で，サナアなどでテロ活動を活発化させており勢力を拡大している。
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