Crisis Phase (November 30, 1967-January 12, 1986): South Yemen formally achieved its independence from the United Kingdom on November 30, 1967. Government troops suppressed a rebellion led by Colonel Abdallah Salih Sab’a al-Awlaqi, commander of the Security Forces, on July 27-August 18, 1968, resulting in the deaths of some 120 rebels and twelve government soldiers. Government troops and rebels clashed in the Bayhan and Harib areas on October 14, 1968, resulting in the deaths of 20 rebels. Government troops and rebels clashed near Bayhan on November 30-December 2, 1968. Some 200 individuals were killed during the rebellion. President Qahtan Muhammad Shaabi, leader of the NLF, was overthrown on June 22, 1969. A five-member presidential council took control of the government on June 23, 1969. A three-member presidential council headed by Salim Ali Rubayyi took control of the government on December 30, 1969. Mohammed Ali Haithem formed a government as prime minister on December 30, 1969. Seven individuals were executed for treason on March 20, 1970, and five individuals were executed for plotting to overthrow the government on October 22, 1970. Salim Ali Rubayyi, chairman of the Presidential Council, proclaimed the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) on November 30, 1970. Ali Nasser Mohammed (Hassaniya) formed a government as prime minister on August 2, 1971. South Arabian League (SAL) rebels attacked positions in eastern South Yemen from Saudi Arabia on February 20, 1972, but the rebels were defeated by government troops on February 24, 1972. Some 175 rebels were killed during the military hostilities. Prime Minister Ali Nasser Mohammed (Hassaniya) survived an assassination attempt by SAL rebels on May 22, 1972. Six individuals were sentenced to death for plotting to overthrow the government on July 9, 1972. The United National Front of South Yemen (UNFSY) headed by Abdul Qawee Mackawee was established in opposition to the government in Sana’a, North Yemen on August 20, 1972. North Yemen banned UNFSY on December 2, 1972. Cuba provided military assistance (700 military advisors) in support of the government beginning in April 1973. Cuban military advisors were withdrawn from South Yemen on March 11, 1976. President Salim Ali Rubayyi was overthrown and killed by supporters of Abdel Fattah Ismail, secretary-general of the National Liberation Front (NLF), on June 26, 1978. Ethiopian government troops were deployed in support of Abdel Fattah Ismail, and the Soviet Union intervened (naval gunfire) in support of Abdel Fattah Ismail on June 26, 1978. The three-member Presidential Council chaired by Prime Minister Ali Nasser Mohammed (Hassaniya) took control of the government on July 1, 1978. The factions ended military hostilities on July 3, 1978. The Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) was established on October 14, 1978. Parliamentary elections were held on December 16-18, 1978. The People’s Supreme Assembly elected Abdel Fattah Ismail as chairman of a eleven-member Presidium on December 27, 1978. Ali Nasser Mohammed (Hassaniya) formed a government as prime minister on December 27, 1978. Major Abdel Aziz Abdel Ghani formed a government as prime minister on March 21, 1979. President Abdel Fattah Ismail resigned as chairman of the Presidium and secretary-general of the NLF on April 21, 1980. Prime Minister Ali Nasser Mohammed (Hassaniya) was chosen as chairman of the Presidium and secretary-general of the NLF on April 26, 1980. The South Yemen Liberation Front (SYLF) was established in opposition to the government in Cairo in July 1980. Twelve individuals were sentenced to death for subversion on April 7, 1982. Haydar Abu Bakr Attas formed a government as prime minister on February 14, 1985. President Ali Nasser Mohammed (Hassaniya) survived an attempted assassination on January 13, 1986, and he retaliated by ordering the killing of YSP rivals. More than 1,000 individuals were killed, and some 300,000 individuals were displaced during the crisis.
Conflict Phase (January 13, 1986-January 24, 1986): YSP factions engaged in military hostilities on January 13-24, 1986. The Soviet Union, which maintained a naval base and up to 1,800 troops in the country, attempted to mediate a ceasefire between the factions beginning on January 16, 1986. President Ali Abdullah Saleh of North Yemen appealed for a ceasefire on January 19, 1986. President Ali Nasser Muhammed (Hassaniya) fled into exile to Egypt on January 24, 1986. Some 4,370 individuals were killed during the conflict, and some 12,000 individuals fled to North Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Post-Conflict Phase (January 25, 1986-May 22, 1990): Prime Minister Bakr Attas was named as provisional president on January 25, 1986. President Attas was chosen as chairman of the ten-member Presidium on February 8, 1986. Elections to the Supreme People’s Council were held on October 28-30, 1986, and the YSP won 71 out of 111 seats. The Supreme People’s Council elected President Attas as chairman of the fifteen-member Presidium on November 6, 1986. South Yemen merged with North Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990.
[Sources: Banks and Muller, 1998, 1022-1028; Clodfelter, 1992, 1077; Degenhardt, 1988, 414-415; Durch, 1978, 34-74; Facts on File, June 30, 1978; Jessup, 1998, 816-819; Katz, 1986, 7-13; Keesing’s Record of World Events, July 12-19, 1969, February 7-14, 1970, December 26-31, 1970, August 21-28, 1971, January 1-7, 1973, November 3, 1978, March 16, 1979, April 18, 1980, March 6, 1981, August 20, 1982, March 1983, April 1985, May 1986, April 1987; Middle East Journal (MEJ), Summer 1972, Autumn 1972, Autumn 1973, Spring 1979, Summer 1985, Winter 1985, Spring 1986, Winter 1986; Middle East Record (MER), 1968; Tillema, 1991, 198-199.]