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Timeline
May 1990 – The modern Republic of Yemen is formed when the Yemen Arab Republic in the north and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen in the south merge after years of border clashes.
May 1991 – Voters ratify the constitution, which enshrines a multiparty political system, free elections and respect for basic human rights.
April 1993 – Parliamentary elections result in the formation of a coalition government made up of the ruling parties of the former north and south—the General People's Congress (GPC) and the Yemen Socialist party.
May 1994 – Armies of the former north and south skirmish as relations between the two regions deteriorate. Former Vice President Ali Salim al-Baid declares the south an independent Democratic Republic of Yemen. In July, northern forces take control of the southern city of Aden and put down the insurrection.
October 1994 – Ali Abdallah Saleh, in power since 1978 and president since 1990, is elected president by parliament.
April 1997 – The ruling GPC party wins the majority of seats in parliamentary elections.
September 1999 – With 96 percent of the vote, Saleh wins a third term in the first-ever direct presidential election. Opposition parties boycott the election.
January 2001 – Parliament passes the Law for Associations and Foundations, which regulates the activity of all NGOs in the country.
February 2001 – Voters approve constitutional reforms extending presidential powers and creating a bicameral legislature.
September 2001 – The Supreme Judiciary Council dismisses 20 judges for "committing irregularities," the first dismissals in what the SJC promises will be an ongoing effort to rid the judicial system of corruption.
November 2001 – After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the government intensifies its fight against Islamic extremists and promises greater cooperation with the U.S. Yemen has been the site of several bloody terrorist acts, including the bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000.
February 2002 – In a crackdown on suspected al-Qaeda members, Yemen expels more than 100 foreign Islamic scholars, including British and French nationals.
December 2002 – Jarallah Omar, deputy secretary general of the Yemeni Socialist party, is assassinated after speaking at the Islah party headquarters in Sanaa. Omar was a leading opposition figure advocating for pluralism and respect for human rights.
April 2003 – In a landslide victory, the GPC gains an overall majority in parliamentary elections.
December 2003 – Yemen signs the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
January 2004 – Yemen hosts an international conference on democracy and human rights.
April 2004 – A court bans Saeed Thabet, a reporter for the London-based Quds Press, from working for six months for writing an allegedly false story about an attempt to kill President Saleh's son. The incident compels President Saleh to abolish jail sentences for journalists the following month, but journalists running afoul of the country's press law continue to be punished with jail time. In September, Abdulkareem al-Khaiwani, editor of opposition weekly Al-Shoura, is arrested for allegedly supporting an al-Houthi rebellion. His paper is suspended and he is sentenced to prison where he stays until March 2005.
May 2004 – Parliament votes to cancel a purportedly illegal oil deal arranged by the Ministry of Oil and threatens a vote of no confidence if the underestimated deal is not rescinded.
September 2004 – After a two-month skirmish with rebel supporters of Hussein al-Houthi near the Saudi border in the north, government forces claim they killed the dissident cleric.
December 2004 – President Saleh establishes committees to fight corruption in the oil and education sectors.
January 2005 – The Minister of Justice, with the support of President Saleh, removes several high-ranking justice officials and judges in an effort to reduce the corruption and ineffectiveness of the court system. Over 20 judges are dismissed for abusing their positions and 108 more are forced into early retirement.
September 2005 – The government launches a new civil servant identification system to curb corruption and waste in the form of government employees receiving multiple salaries without performing any work.
November 2005 – Yemen is disqualified from receiving aid under the Millennium Challenge Account, an aid program for developing nations launched by the Bush administration in 2002. Yemen, chosen as a "threshold" country in 2004, is suspended due to concern over government corruption and lack of commitment to individual freedoms. The following month, the World Bank announces a one-third reduction of its aid to Yemen for similar reasons. The international criticism prompts President Saleh to set up an independent committee to fight corruption.
February 2006 – Twenty-three prisoners, including 13 convicted al-Qaeda fighters, escape during a prison break, which U.S. officials claim was orchestrated with inside help.
March 2006 – More than 600 followers of Hussein al-Houthi, captured during the 2004 rebellion, are granted amnesty and released.
June 2006 – President Saleh announces he will stand for re-election in September as both the ruling GPC party and the opposition coalition sign an agreement to ensure a free and fair campaign. The agreement calls for the neutrality of the military, the government-run media, the use of public funds and for both sides to have representation on the elections commission and on the team that scrutinizes voter registration lists.
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