The Embassy of Yemen in Berlin

Bilateral relations between Germany and Yemen have historically been good and friendly. Diplomatic relations were established at the beginning of the 1950s, with what was then the North Yemen. In 1962, just after the revolution in Yemen, West Germany recognized the new Yemen Arab Republic while East Germany kept close ties with the South Yemen, who was socialist. Both Germany and Yemen have reunification in common point between Germany and Yemen and contributes to create links between the two countries.

Since 2011, Germany has supported Yemen on its way toward democratization, along with other international partner and especially the Gulf Cooperation Council. However, hostilities broke out in March 2015 between the President Hadi’s legitimate regime and the Houthi rebels. Germany is calling for an end to the conflict and a return to a political process which is inclusive of all members of the population. Germany’s cooperative goal with Yemen is to promote good governance and respect for human rights. To do so, Germany is in favor of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s transition plan.

Economic relations between Germany and Yemen are minimal, with a trade balance largely in deficit for Yemen. Traditionally, Germany exports machinery, chemical products and electrical goods to Yemen. However, since hostilities started in 2015 commercial exchanges have almost stopped.

Germany has supported Yemen development for more than 40 years. During this period of time, more than 1 billion euro has been pledged to Yemen’s development. But still a lot of work remains: Yemen is ranked 160th on the Human Development Index and is plagued by a weak education system, discrimination against women, low-capacity state… With the conflict in the country raging since 2015, the situation in Yemen has become even more complicated and the United Nations declared the situation in Yemen as a Level 3 Emergency, the highest on the UN scale.