(2011-0282-F) Yemeni Civil War

The materials in FOIA 2011-1029-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. The records processed in response to this FOIA request concern the civil war in Yemen in May through July of 1994. Until 1990, Yemen had existed as two separate entities. The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) had become independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. South Yemen was a British protectorate until 1967, when it withdrew and became the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. In 1970, South Yemen adopted Marxist policy. The subsequent emigration of thousands of Southern Yemenis to North Yemen fomented underlying feelings of hostility between the two states. None the less, North and South Yemen formally united into the Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990. Under unification, Ali Abdullah Saleh of North Yemen became the President and Ali Salem al Beidh of South Yemen became Vice President. The government gradually unified the two Yemen’s political and economic systems. Elections to form a unified government took place in 1993. However, in April of that year, claiming Northern Yemeni violence against his Yemeni Socialist Party and marginalization of the Southern Yemeni economy, Vice President al Beidh withdrew from the capital of Sanaa to the city of Aden in South Yemen. Throughout the rest of 1993, negotiations between Northern and Southern Yemeni leaders took place as political infighting crippled the Yemeni government. Though the two sides signed an accord in Amman, Jordan on February 20, 1994, it was insufficient to prevent civil war. Though war appeared inevitable after a tank skirmish near Amran on April 27, 1994, the civil war officially began on May 4 when the Southern Yemeni air force bombed Sanaa and the Northern air force attacked Aden. On May 21, South Yemen seceded and formed the Democratic Republic of Yemen. The fighting lasted through all of May and June. On June 1, the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire and fact-finding mission in Resolution 924. Then, on June 28, Security Council Resolution 931 considered the findings of the mission and reiterated the demand for a ceasefire. However, the June 30 ceasefire only lasted a few hours and the war did not end until North Yemen captured Aden on July 7, 1994. Textual staff and office files processed in response to this FOIA request are located in the records of the National Security Council. In the Global Issues and Multilateral Affairs directorate, Robert Orr’s files include cables regarding UN Security Council Resolution 924, a draft of that resolution, and the Secretary General’s report on the subsequent fact-finding mission. In addition to another copy of that report, the files of the Near East and South Asian Affairs directorate’s Stephen Grummon contain press materials, drafts and statements regarding both of the Security Council resolutions, and a translation of the June 30 ceasefire document. Furthermore, Grummon’s records also include handwritten notes from a meeting with interest groups in May 1994, as well as a joint letter from the American Muslim Council and the National Association of Arab Americans. Responsive electronic records are found among the NSC Cables and Emails. Released cables date from January through December 1994 and consist of international press clippings and communications regarding international aid for the Yemeni people. Released emails contain National Security Council press guidance and the text of a May 17, 1994 speech that National Security Advisor Anthony Lake gave to the Soref Symposium at the Washington Institute. In the speech, Lake mentioned the conflict in Yemen as part of a larger context of stability and peace in the Middle East. Additional textual records are located in the NSC Records Management System. These include a letter from Human Rights Watch/Middle East to Yemeni leaders regarding civilian casualties, a letter from Yemeni-American Adbul Samed Sharf of Link Corp urging the recognition of South Yemen, and comments on a July 20, 1994 New York Times Op-Ed by David Killion regarding alleged Saudi involvement.