South Arabia: From Breakup to Unification
by Marc Van Daele
Yemen enjoyed a rich history well before the beginning of modern times during the Saba Kingdom when Marib was its captial. It was not until the period between the 13th and 15th centuries that the Rasulide dynasty extended its power to Mecca and in Hadramaout.
The Egyptians turned up in Yemen in 1515, and when Egypt was led by the Ottomans in 1517, Yemen fell as well. From his rise in 1597, Imam Al Mansur Billah Al Qasim, the first Zeidi Imam to rule Yemen, commenced upon a war of independence. The goal was reached in 1636. During the 18th century the Imams lost their influence over the Yafa and Aulaqi tribes in South Arabia while the Sultan of Lahej would be considered independent in 1728. In 1818, the Egyptian intervention against the Wahabites threw Yemen once again into Ottoman control.
S.B. Haines tried for a long time to convince the government in Bombay to
intervene in Aden. In 1839, Bombay conceded to his pleas and obtained the Sultan
of Lahej, occupied the small peninsula in Aden and offered the Sultan an annual
payment. Haines was afterwards appointed to as a political agent.
The most
prestigious title, that of political representative, was denied him. He remained
courageously in his post until 1854. He would then be tried in Bombay for
embezzlement.
In actual fact, he stayed in isolation in Aden, his grasp on
power ever tenuous. Such was the fate for the founder of one of the pearls of
the British Empire.
In 1857, the British decisively made their presence known on Perim Island. As major port, Aden would play an important role in the opening of the Suez Canal.
Following Qish and Socotra in 1886, the Indian Empire established 18
protectorate treaties between 1888 and 1902 to different tribes in South Arabia.
In 1914, a similar treaty was signed with the Audhalis.
In January 1903, an
Anglo-Ottoman commission was put in place in order to establish the border
between Yemen and Indian claims. It concluded its work in 1905.
Yemen used the Maria Theresa Thaler as its currency. Concurrently, an official currency was also used in Yemen. Aden used the money of the Indian Empire (3 pies = 1 pice; 4 pices = 1 anna; 16 annas = 1 rupee). Between 1860 and 1896, the Sultanate of Lahej issued two small distinct coins. In the Eastern territories, the State of Qaiti (Shihr and Mukalla) the issued several coins in Chomsih and Ryals and passed out Maria Theresa Thalers and Indian coins. The State of Kathiri (Seiyum and Tarim) issued the Thirty Chomsihs coins.
The first post office was opened in Aden on October 10, 1854. For one and a
half annas one could buy stamps of English India. At the end of that same year,
stamps from 2 to 4 annas could be procured.
A second post office was opened
in the port in January 1858. Indian stamps were canceled with a postmark
numbered 124. In 1871, a number 125 postmark was used briefly in the Crater post
office, Aden Canton, when it was first opened, but it was quickly replaced by
the number 124 A postmark. Between 1875 and 1886, a B22 postmark was used;
between 1891 and 1937, other post offices were opened and often closed again:
Dthali, Kamaran, Khormaksar, Maalla, Nobat-Dakim, Perim and Sheikh Ottman.
After World War II, Yemen regained independence under the leadership of the
Zeidi Imams. Imam Yahya ibn Hamid El Din quickly laid claim to the feudal states
that were under the power of the British. A treaty of friendship and mutual
co-operation was signed by Yemen and His Majesty the King in 1934.
The
development of aviation allowed the British to have better control over the
protectorates.
The use of postal stamps by Yemen from 1926 was led by the need of certain protectorates to authorize local deliveries. In its July 30, 1970 issue, the journal Stamp Collecting stated the possibility that in 1927 (1346) a postage stamp for local usage in the State of Qaiti would have cost half a harf.
In 1925 (year 1344 of the Herige), the State of Ghurfah in Hadramaout sought to print six pieces of money in 4, 8, 15, 30, 45 and 60 chomsihs; they served little use.
Aden, Colony of the Crown
Following the adoption of the 1935 constitution in British India, the question of the Aden Statute was posed. In 1937, Aden came under control of the Colonial Office in London and became part of the Crown. On April 1 of that year, the first series of postage stamps were issued. Aden continued to use the currency of the Indian Empire. In the protectorates, Indian money was circulated as were the Maria Theresa Thalers.
Aden served as a British base at this time against Italian propaganda and infiltration in Yemen. From the declaration of war between Great Britain and Italy, the Protectorate of British Somaliland was invaded. British troops left in August 1940.
Aden found itself directly at the hands of the enemy; the regaining of Somaliland by the British in March 1941 relinquished the vice.
In July 1942, British authorities set up two separate territorial entities in East Aden, issuing various postage stamps for all destinations. Moreover, they carried the mention of "Aden" to act as stamps of the Kathiri state of Seiyun and the Qaiti state of Shihr and Mukalla.
In 1946, there were 83 000 inhabitants in the territorial colony of Aden.
After independence from India, the use of currency shifted in Aden. In October
1951, Indian money was replaced by the East African shilling that was divided
into 100 cents.
It is important to remember the liners serving the eastern
coast of Africa found in Aden at this time. The east African money (Kenya-
Uganda- Tanganyika) were in use in Aden.
During separate conferences held in 1954, 1956 and 1958, Great Britain succeeded in convincing the different states under the protectorate to join into a federation. On February 11, 1959, six of the western protectorates signed an accord to form the Federation of South Arabian Emirates: Beihan, Adhali, Fadhli, Lower Yafa, Dhala and Upper Aulaqi.
The treaty changed nothing in the protectorate system; in May 1962, they took the name of the Federation of South Arabia. In 1965, it had covered 16 protectorates: The Sultanate of Lajey (member in 1959), the Cheikhat Alawi (member in 1965), The Dhala Emirate (1959), Cheikat Alawi (1965), Audhali (1959), The Sultanate of Upper Aulaqi ( 1960), The Emirate of Upper-Aulaqi (1959), the Sultanate of Lower Auqail (1960), Beihan (1959), Dathina (1960), Fadhli (1959), Haushabi (1963), Muflahi (1965), Sha'ib (1963), Lower Yafa (1959), Wahidi (1962). Let us note, however, that Upper Yafa and the three sultanates in the East were not members.
The evolution of Aden was at the same time slowed and the Legislative Council created in 1947 and a majority of elected members had left in by 1959. Aden received a new constitution in 1962 and became a member of the Federation of South Arabian in January 1963 under the name of the State of Aden.
The Federation of South Arabia
The incorporation of Aden in the federation constituted a step towards the
creation of an independent federation for the British.
The harbor industry
and petroleum refineries created a nationalist proletariat that was slightly
more favorable to the feudal federation.
On November 25, 1963, two stamps
commemorating the centenary of the International Red Cross were published in
cents and shillings under the symbol of the Federation of the South Arabia.
In the following months, protests and acts of terrorism were pursued in
Aden. The Aden stamp was not removed until March 31, 1965 and was replaced by
those of the Federation of South Arabia.
The stamps of the Federation took on a definitive course on April 1, 1965 with the new currency: a dinar divided into a 1000 fils. The new pieces of currency (1, 5, 25 and 50 fils) had been brought into circulation in 1964. A new currency had thus been established.
On April 1, 1966, the postal stamps of Kathiri and Qaiti received a surcharge in the new currency with the mention of 'South Arabia' and not 'Aden'.
The constitutional situation was confusing until the federation achieved independence and can be understood by a state under colonial rule, and a myriad of protectorates.
Upper Yafa and the three eastern sultanates were not a part of the proceedings. Under pressure from the Liberation Front for Occupied South Yemen, the political and social situations had become very troubling. Aden controlled the outer islands of Muscat and Oman and those which would be rendered in 1967; Perim Island and Kamaran; those last conquered by the Turkish in 1915 had been declared a British protectorate in 1949.
Through their failure to join the Federation of the South Arabia, four states under the Protectorate arranged their own postal independence by issuing their own stamps.
On September 30, 1967, the Sultanate of Upper Yafa, the only western state under the Protectorate not to accept integration in the Federation, issued a series of 10 stamps from 5 to 500 fils (airmail from 75 to 500 fils) depicting a map of the state and its flag, as well as the state's coat-of-arms.
At the same time, the forces of the National Liberation Front had succeeded in pushing aside the Liberation Front of Occupied South Yemen, taking control of the small sultanate of 600 square miles.
With American assistance, the Sultanate later issued 12 thematic series representing a total of 72 stamps.
The large majority of these thematic vignettes were never used.
Postal Issues of the Three Eastern Protectorates
It must be said that the postal issues citing "South Arabia" from Kathir State of Seiyun, Qaiti State of Shihr and Mukalla, and Mahra State of Qishn and Socotra were not the same as those of Upper Yafa or the Federation of South Arabia.
From April 1, 1966, the Kathiri Sultanate of Seiyun, also called Kathiri Sultanate of Hadramoaout, changed its then-series of postal stamps in 1954 with the bilingual wording "South Arabia" with the values in the new currency from 5 fils (5 cents) to 500 fils (10 shillings). A slightly different change was similarly instituted over the same series on August 13, 1966. Certain existing values were conversely changed (10, 15, 100 and 250 fils).
For the 5 fils, the black, red and clear blue changes are the rarest.
The
1989 Minkus Catalogue cites this interesting and precise effect, but their
quotes for these variations are somewhat inflated. Such quotes poorly resist the
trend towards less collected modern stamps. On April 13, 1966, Seiyun also
issued a series of eight stamps by changing the values of the eight stamps
issued in 1954 under the Olympic theme.
The 20 fils (35 cents) change is
rare. The change in the Olympic stamps is red; it was black.
The 10 fils (15
cents) stamps carried an additional change: "London July 6". The same stamp
would exist, but would be changed to a lilac color.
Finally the change would
also be imposed on stamps already altered in South Arabia of 250 fils (5
shillings).
All this would feel commonplace.
After having issued a seven
stamp series on September 13, 1966 (10 to 500 fils) relating to the World Cup
won by England, changing the stamps of the 1954 series already changed by South
Arabia, Seiyun dealt out the new stamps: a series in honor of the centenary of
UIT, and a series of paintings by Sir William Churchill.
Those which served the postal administration in Seiyun will in 1967 retake
the 1954 series, changed by the 1954 series so that 9 values would appear (from
10 to 500 fils) with the names of contemporary men of state and eight values (10
to 254 fils) with the names of astronauts.
Following different and somewhat
interesting thematic issues: painting, Winter Olympic Games, Mexican Games,
Kennedy etc...Let us also mention the same singular issue of 20 fils featuring
an antelope.
Seiyun would continue to issue in 1968 when the administration
of the Popular Republic of South Yemen had already taken control of the country.
The Sultanate of Qu'aiti (or Qaiti, the two spellings are used by British services) of Shihr and Mukalla, were also called Qu'aiti State in Hadramaout, therefore changed its current series of 12 values of 1963, for South Arabia with mention of the new currency from 5 fils (5 cents) to 500 fils (500 shillings).
That same year, 1966, the same stamps were altered in memory of Sir Winston Churchill (3 values: 5, 10 and 15 fils) and in memory of J.F. Kennedy (3 values: 20, 25 and 35 fils). The changes in the 5, 10 and 20 fils were in red, those of the 15, 25 and 35 fils were blue. Naturally, there were variations: black changes in the 6 values and alterations in the 10 fils (Churchill).
Qu'aiti proceeded to print various new thematic stamps: Olympic Games, astronomy, scouting, painting, London etc...The sultanate feel under the control of the National Liberation Front.
The Mahra Sultanate which covered a vast territory behind the coastal city of
Qishn to the border with Dhofar and the outer island of Socotra, started to
issue a beautiful series of 11 values from 5 to 500 fils in 1967, presenting the
state's flag.
This issue was followed by 19 thematic issues that were quite
interesting from a stamp collector's viewpoint.
There is also something to be said about airmail. Seiyun had published a 50 cent airmail stamp in 1960. Qu'aiti had done the same in 1956. Only the latter had been changed with the mention of South Arabia and a value of 25 fils -- partly in remembrance of Sir Winston Churchill and partly in remembrance of J.F. Kennedy.
These three sultanates, like the other protectorates in the Aden region, would easily change the regime.
Their leaders practiced politics from afar, and were more often found in Europe.
On the other hand, the feudal structures that had been practically frozen by the British had never evolved.
The people, fueled by the Arab nationalist propaganda in Egypt, were ready for a change.
The North Yemen Revolution
Imam Ahmad who had refused all reform in his kingdom died in September 1962.
His son, Imam Muhammed Badr, had come to power a week after a general revolt.
The Egyptian troops rapidly made their course towards supporting Colonel
Abdullah Sallal who had proclaimed the republic. There then followed a civil war
until 1969.
Quickly thereafter followed a battle for influence between Saudi
Arabia and Egypt. Stamp issues were abundant as were themes circulating around
the "Yemen Arab Republic" and the "Mutawakelite Kingdom of Yemen".
The initial stamps issued by the two parties during the first year did not lack in interest. The Yemeni Riyal had been divided into 40 Bogaches or Bogshas. The Bogsha was divided into two Halalas and the Halala into two Zalat. Already under Imam Ahmad, the smallest currency division was the eightieth Riyal (Halala). It was at the end of 1974 that the Republic divided the Yemeni Riyal into 100 fils.
After the Egyptian fiasco in 1967, Egypt evacuated Yemen and in 1968 the United Arab Republic was dissolved. In March 1970, at the time of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia an accord was reached between Yemeni Republicans and Monarchists. The Yemeni royal family had abandoned its departure and partisans from both sides returned to Sana to share power under the auspices of Saudi Arabia.
Yemen depends heavily on Saudi Arabia under the economic plan to maintain the civil war without outside support.
The internal politics of Yemen were very contorted until the election of Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Abdullah Saleh to the Presidency of the Republic in July 1978.
Numbers differ, but the population of the Yemen Arab Republic at the beginning of the 1980s had been estimated at slightly over 7 million people. The question of relations between the North and South have remained at the center of all political issues.
People's Republic of Southern Yemen and People's Republic of Northern Yemen
On November 29, 1967, the last British forces had left Aden and the People's
Republic of South Yemen was proclaimed. The National Liberation Front had
succeeded in leaving in December 1966 to supplant the Liberation Front of
Occupied South Yemen supported by Egypt. Great Britain oversaw events,
preferring to trade with the NLF.
The postage stamps of the Federation of
South Arabia were changed by hand with a long, straight purple postmark reading
"People's Republic of Southern Yemen"; black ink was also used.
It was not
until April 1, 1968 that the South Arabian series was changed mechanically. The
Dinar divided into 1000 fils was maintained. Bank notes of 250 and 500 fils, as
well as 1, 5 and 10 Dinar notes issued in 1965 by the South Arabian Currency
Authority continued on their course.
The Dinar of April 1965 equaled a pound
sterling.
On November 18, 1967, the dinar followed the pound in its
devaluation by more than 14%, this parity remained until August 1971 when the
new 25 and 50 fils coins took effect.
In 1984, the 500 fils notes and the
1,5 and 10 dinar notes replaced those of the old federation.
Under the new
political structure, independence allowed for internal dissension within the
National Liberation Front.
The administration of President Al Shaabi would
be faced with the extremism that fomented in the former protectorates. From
1967, the feudal regimes had been swept away just as easily as the sultans and
emirs who had distanced themselves from the populace because of their aloofness.
The true peasant revolts were open to the voices of communism. The troubles
rested in the districts of Rafdan and Aulaqi in July 1968. In June 1969, the
President was replaced by a five-member presidential committee.
The new
regime was openly pro-Soviet. In November 1970, a new constitution was declared
and the country renamed: "The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen".
On
August 2, 1971, a triumvirate placed Salem Robaya as President of the Republic,
Abdoul Fattah Ismail as Secretary General of the Party and Ali Nasser Mohammed
as President of the Council.
The President was executed on June 26, 1978.
For the most part, Salem Robay was then considered as the favorite to
succeed in North Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Abdoul Fattah Ismail combined his
functions with those of the President of the Republic. The Yemeni Socialist
Party was formed in October 1978; the country joined Comecon in June 1979. In
April 1980, Ali Nasser Mohammed succeeded in brushing aside the president and
staying in power. The economic problems were numerous and there was talk of a
rift forming. Aden continued its opposition to the regime in North Yemen.
On
January 13, 1986, President Ali Nasser Mohammed organized a preemptive coup
which was unsuccessful and bloody. He was forced into exile. The elimination of
historical leaders from the Marxist revolution and the catastrophic situation in
the South Yemen economy demanded that the country consider unity with the North
as a means to rid itself of its difficulties.
The floods of March and April
1989 in the Hadramaout added to the horrible economic condition.
Unification of the Two Yemens
If the liberation from western influences in the South had relieved hopes of
Yemen's unification, everything separated the Northern Republic following the
turbulent seventies beside Saudi Arabia and Marxist South Yemen.
In 1972,
the Arab Republic of North Yemen had occupied the Kamaran Islands militarily. In
May 1988, an accord was signed between the two Yemens to develop the petroleum
border zone along Maareb-Chaaboua.
The move had been made. The contact
increased. A unification project was finalized during the "historic summer" of
November 30, 1989. On May 22, 1990, unification was declared between the North
(200, 000 km2 and roughly 10 million people) and the South (336, 869 km2 and 2,
365, 000 people).
The economic problems still preoccupy the country as much
as they did during the Gulf War, the payments caused by the expatriation of
North Yemenites had already subsided.
The President of North Yemen,
Lieutenant General Ali Abdullah Salah had become President of the Republic of
Yemen. Unification brought back the start of a political cohesion between the
People's General Congress and the Yemeni Socialist Party which are the two
parties that make up the government and have remain in power since.
Aden was promised the title of commercial capital but all the administration is centralized in Sana.
In Paris, the former Embassy of South Yemen, 25 Rue George Bizet, serves now as the Embassy of Yemen (unified).
In London, the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen is the former Embassy of North Yemen, 41 South Street.
Since the Fall of 1991, the new central bank removed the former Dinars from the South and the currency of the new unified republic has become the Rial divided into 100 Fils.
From the beginning, the two regional postal administrations continued to
issue stamps in their own currency made out in the name of "Yemen Republic",
whether it be in Dinars or Rials. This system will be abandoned once the new
singular currency is used in the whole country.
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