Federalization of Yemen

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Map of the proposed Federal Regions of Yemen

The federalization of Yemen was the proposed transformation of the Republic of Yemen from a unitary state to a federal state. Driven by the significant economic, religious, political, and historical differences between the northern and southern parts of the country, federalization has been a common and controversial proposal to resolve regionalist tensions since the unification of the country in 1990.[1][2]

The 2013-2014 National Dialogue Conference concluded that Yemen would adopt federalism in an attempt to resolve the political crisis that began with the Yemeni Revolution in 2011. A committee organized by Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi determined that Yemen would be split into six federal regions: Azal, Saba, Tihama, Aden, Janad, and Hadhramaut.[3] Azal, Saba, Janad and Tihama would have been northern provinces whereas Aden and Hadhramaut would have been southern.[4] Sana’a, the capital, was to become a federal city and would not have been part of any region. Aden, the former capital of South Yemen, would have been a part of the Aden region, but would have had special legislative and executive powers.[5] The conclusions of the Conference formed the basis of a new constitution, which was to be put to a referendum in 2015.[2]

The plan for a six-region federation received international praise, but was denounced by many within Yemen.[6] The Southern Movement suspected that the division of the south into two regions was an attempt to turn southern secessionists against each other; they preferred a two-region division between the north and the south. The Zaidi elites in the Azal region would have been left with almost no natural resources, whereas the sparsely populated Saba and Hadhramaut regions would have received nearly all of the country's natural resources.[7] Meanwhile, the Houthis were outraged that the plan would have landlocked their home governorate of Saada. The referendum on the new federal constitution was indefinitely delayed by the intensification of the Yemeni Civil War in 2015.[2] Some commentators have cited Hadi's federalization plan as one of the main causes of the civil war.[7]

Proposed federal regions[]

Flags of the regions[]

  • Flag of Aden Region.

  • Flag of Hadhramaut Region.

  • Flag of Janad Region.

  • Flag of Saba Region.

  • Flag of Tahama Region.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Williams, Paul; Sommadossi, Tiffany; Mujais, Ayat (12 April 2017). "A Legal Perspective on Yemen's Attempted Transition from a Unitary to a Federal System of Government". Utrecht Journal of International and European Law. 33 (84): 4–22. doi:10.5334/ujiel.366.
  2. ^ a b c Day, Stephen W. (14 August 2019). "The Future Structure of the Yemeni State". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Six Regions Approved For Federal Transition". Atlantic Council. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Yemen to become six-region federation". Al Jazeera English. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Yemen to become federation of six regions". BBC News. 10 Feb 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  6. ^ Salisbury, Peter (3 February 2014). "Yemen: Ready for change?". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b Shuja al-Deen, Maysaa (28 February 2019). "Federalism in Yemen: A Catalyst for War, the Present Reality, and the Inevitable Future". Sana'a Center. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
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