Djibouti Send me a copy Subject: Email addresses provided here will be used solely to email the link indicated. They will not be saved, shared, or used again in any manner whatsoever. The CAPTCHA code you entered is not valid, please reenter the CAPTCHA code Djibouti Official Name: Republic of Djibouti Last Updated: December 29, 2016 Embassy Messages Djibouti City, Republic of Djibouti Telephone: +(253) 21-45-30-00 (Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(253) 77-877-229 Email: ConsularDjibouti@state.gov Destination Description See the Department of State’s Fact Sheets on Djibouti for information on U.S. - Djibouti relations. Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements Visit the Embassy of Djibouti website for the most current visa information. Obtain your visa prior to travel.

Thirty-day visas may be issued on arrival at the discretion of immigration authorities (fee is 15,000 Djiboutian francs/$90) but cannot be guaranteed. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Djiboutian embassy or consulate. Contact the French embassy in countries where there is no Djiboutian consular presence. World Health Organization (WHO) card with yellow fever vaccination, if you have arrived from a yellow-fever prone country If you are traveling to Djibouti in support of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) activities, follow directions per the Foreign Clearance Guide. Journalists require a letter of accreditation approved in advance by the Ministry of Communication and Culture . U.S. journalists and other journalists working for U.S.-based media institutions should contact the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs section at least two weeks prior to travel to facilitate this accreditation process. Journalists who fail to receive an accreditation letter risk arrest, seizure of equipment, and/or expulsion. The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to, or foreign residents of, Djibouti.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction , and customs information on our websites. Safety and Security Regional terrorist groups continue to threaten Western interests and can easily cross borders to conduct attacks in public places where Westerners congregate. Civil unrest or armed conflict in the neighboring countries of Ethiopia , Eritrea , Yemen , and Somalia affect the security situation in Djibouti. A large number of refugees and asylum seekers from across the region, including Somali refugees and asylum seekers from Ethiopia, have settled in the Ali Addeh Camp near Ali Sabieh, and refugees from Yemen continue to settle in the Markazi refugee camp near Obock. Tensions along the Djibouti-Eritrea border exist from an ongoing border dispute, necessitating approval from the Djibouti government before travel north of Obock. Border skirmishes may occur intermittently. Many border areas between Djibouti and both Ethiopia and Somalia lack visible demarcation and may still contain landmines. Avoid demonstrations and use vigilance during your movements around the country. Even events intended to be peaceful can become violent. Security forces have at times relied on force to disperse protesters Maintain caution at large gatherings and in areas frequented by foreigners.

See traveling safely abroad for travel tips. Local Laws & Special Circumstances Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Convictions for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs result in long prison sentences and heavy fines. Although the narcotic khat is legal in Djibouti, it is illegal in many countries, including the United States. Some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website. The Embassy operates within the legal and administrative framework of Djibouti, and cannot intervene in criminal and civil matters including judicial proceedings, private contract, employment or commercial disputes. Photography: It is illegal to take pictures of government buildings, military installations or personnel, and other infrastructure such as air and sea ports, bridges, and public buildings, as well as of religious sites, such as mosques. You could be fined, have your photographic equipment confiscated, and risk detention and/or expulsion. Do not take photos of Djiboutians without their permission. Children: Dual Somali or Djiboutian-U.S.

citizens should be aware that moving children to Djibouti or Somalia (including Somaliland) from the United States for the purpose of having Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) performed can be prosecuted in both countries. FGM/C is illegal under both Djiboutian and U.S. law. Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information. Djiboutian law enforcement officials occasionally prevent foreigners from contacting anyone while in detention. Because of this, the U.S. Embassy may not receive notification of an arrest or may not be allowed access to you if you are detained. Phone Service: Although land lines do exist in parts of Djibouti, cellular phones are the norm. You may purchase a SIM card locally for use in an unlocked GSM cell phone. The national cellular phone provider is Djibouti Telecom. Telecommunications systems outside of Djibouti City are unreliable or non-existent. Currency: The Djiboutian Franc (DJF) is the official currency. It is cash economy; credit cards are accepted at major hotels and supermarkets only.

Most vendors and banks will only take bills printed after 2006 due to counterfeiting. Exchange currency only at reputable banks. ATMs are limited and may not recognize U.S. issued credit cards, including MasterCard, though Visa generally works. Firearms: Strict regulations may be enforced on the temporary import and export of firearms. Contact the Embassy of Djibouti in Washington, D.C. or the Djibouti National Police for specific information regarding customs and registration requirements prior to travel. Hunting without a permit is illegal. Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details: Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips . Women Travelers: The law prohibits female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), but the practice remains prevalent with rates estimated at 78 percent nationally. Reliable rape statistics are not available, and laws for sentencing perpetrators are not enforced effectively. Domestic violence is common but underreported. Rather than the courts, families and the informal clan-based justice system generally handle cases of domestic abuse or violence.

Police rarely intervene in domestic violence incidents, The National Union of Djiboutian Women operates a walk-in counseling center (Cellule d’Ecoute) in Djibouti City that provides services and referrals for women and men. See our travel tips for Women Travelers . Health U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel & Transportation Road Conditions and Safety: Although main roads in Djibouti City are well maintained, others are unpaved or in poor repair and subject to unexpected flooding. Highways are prone to frequent rock slides. Many roads wind through steep ravines and lack guardrails. Police occasionally set up random roadblock stops on major roads to conduct inspections of vehicle registration and insurance. Outside of Djibouti City, hazards include narrow roads, insufficient lighting, poor vehicle maintenance (missing headlights) and wayward pedestrians and livestock. Police set up roadblocks on major roads which are not clearly visible at night. Other risks include excessive speeding and erratic driving habits. The widespread use of the narcotic khat by drivers contributes to speeding and unsafe driving habits. When driving outside Djibouti City, avoid all travel after dark and use convoys of two vehicles in case one car becomes disabled.

Carry additional fuel and provisions (water, satellite phone, first aid kit). Gas stations are located at a considerable distance from one another and sell only diesel fuel in rural areas. There are few professional roadside assistance services. Landmines: Stay on paved roads. Unmarked land mines exist in the border region with Eritrea, though most landmines have been marked or cleared from border regions. Traffic Laws: A U.S. driver’s license or International Driving Permit is required to drive in Djibouti. The use of cell phones while driving is prohibited. Exercise caution at intersections; drivers often run red lights and do not stop at intersections. Third-party liability insurance is required and you must display the insurance sticker. Accidents: Remain inside the vehicle and wait for the traffic police or gendarmes. If a hostile mob forms or you feel you are in danger, leave the scene in your vehicle if possible and proceed directly to the nearest police station to report the incident. If you are injured, drive to the nearest hospital or clinic. Public Transportation: Avoid all travel by public transportation, and hire private transport from a reliable source. Public transportation is unregulated, unreliable, and generally unsafe. Hotel and airport shuttle services are a safe alternative.

Taxis are available but are considered unsafe. U.S. Embassy personnel are prohibited from riding in buses or taxis. The capital city and the towns of Obock and Tadjoura have intercity bus and ferry services. An electric limited rail, replacing the century old Ethio-Djibouti railway, began operation in October 2016 with freight service. Hiring a vehicle: Reputable car rental firms can include the services of a driver. Be particularly vigilant at airports where criminals use luggage tag information to present themselves as pre-arranged drivers. Do not use your passport as a security deposit. If you allow your passport to be photocopied, keep it in your sight at all times. Yemen - The Internet Nations The Internet Nations Yemen is a country in Arabia. The capital is Aden. The main religion is Islam. The main language is Arab. North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation.

The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a ceasefire that continues to hold. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals including secession. Public rallies in Sana'a against President SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities.

By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's third refusal to sign the GCC agreement in late May led to heavy street fighting, and in early June an explosion at the mosque in the presidential compound injured SALIH, who was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for treatment. June witnessed an increasing number of clashes with government and anti-government forces - some with links to al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula - in a number of cities and towns in southern Yemen. In late September, SALIH returned to Sanaa amid heavy shelling and machinegun fire between loyal regime forces and defector military forces. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal.

In late November 2011, President SALIH signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down, to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd al-Rabuh Mansur HADI, and to call for early elections in February 2012. The merger of North and South Yemen in 1990 gave birth to a new nation, the Republic of Yemen, on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. As a result, all Yemenis are joined under a single government for the first time in three centuries. The two separate nations, among the world's poorest, united in hopes of reaching a level of prosperity together that they failed to achieve apart. Instead, tensions among Yemen's various groups hampered progress. Yemenis in the north and south have much in common, including their Arab roots and their Muslim religion. They also share a heritage that includes Saba, the biblical Sheba—one of many kingdoms that flourished from the 10th to the 2nd century B.C. The Land and Economy Yemen borders the Red Sea on the west, Saudi Arabia on the north, Oman on the east, and the Gulf of Aden on the south.

Yemen's possessions include the 1,400-sq.-mi. (3,636-sq.-km.) island of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden; the islands of Perim, Al Hanish al Kabar, Jazirat Jabal Zuqar, and Kamaran in the Red Sea; and smaller islands in the Arabian Sea. Yemen's geography played a key role in its economic and political development and in the formation of the hardy, independent Yemenis. The nation's location at the entrance to the Red Sea made it an inviting target for invaders from several nations. Its rugged landscape, especially in its mountainous interior, enabled Yemeni traditions to survive long periods of foreign occupation. These same mountains helped keep Yemenis in the north isolated from advances going on nearby. The western region that was once North Yemen contains most of the nation's fertile land. Alongside the Red Sea is a strip of semidesert plain called the Tihama. About 40 mi. (64 km.) wide, the Tihama is a hot, sandy region with sparse vegetation and an occasional oasis.

Wadis, dry waterways that flood during the rainy season, run from the mountains to the sea. Irrigation schemes along the wadis have enabled farmers there to produce an abundance of vegetables, fruits, and cotton. The old port of Mocha, which gave Yemeni coffee its name, is located in the Tihama. Today, the region's main port is Hodeida. East of the coastal strip, the land rises into highlands that reach 4,000 to 12,000 ft. (1,200 to 3,600 m.). More than 15 in. (38 cm.) of rain fall during the summer, when monsoon winds blow off the Indian Ocean. The average July temperature is 70° F. (21° C.). Farmers in the highlands cultivate crops on terraces. Recent decades have seen an increasing number of these terraces turned over to the cultivation of khat, a shrub whose leaves Yemenis chew for its mild narcotic effect. Expanded khat production puts more money in farmers' pockets but adds to the nation's food woes.

Yemen relies on imports of sugar, grain, and flour to meet its food needs. The nation's capital, Sana, situated more than 7,120 ft. (2,170 m.) above sea level, is the former capital of North Yemen. A mud-brick, gated wall surrounds this ancient city. Within the walls are some of the high-rise buildings typical of Yemen. These rectangular houses of stone and mud brick are often more than five stories high. Their windows are decorated with delicately designed tracery. Taizz, 4,600 ft. (1,402 m.) above sea level, is a major city in the southwest. The southern part of these western mountains reaches down into what was formerly South Yemen. Farmers grow grains and dates in the moist highlands here. Cotton growing is important along the wadis Bana and Tibban, north of the port city of Aden. Aden, an important center of trade, used to be the capital of South Yemen. Yemenis refer to it as the "economic capital" of the new nation. The city of Marib is found just east of the western highlands, as the mountains slope off into desert.

Three thousand years ago, camel caravans snaked through this city on their way north to the Mediterranean Sea. They carried spices, silks, and jewels from East Asia, and the sweet-smelling resin of two Yemeni trees, frankincense and myrrh. Today, archaeologists visit Marib to dig for the secrets of past civilizations. Small oil deposits were discovered near Marib in 1984. The export of oil and oil products provides funds for development. At home, low-cost bottled gas and kerosene are welcome substitutes for scarce firewood. Demand for firewood was so strong before the discovery of oil that some environmentalists predicted the imminent loss of all the north's trees and shrubs. A sandy coastal plain separates Yemen's southern shore from mountains that taper off toward the east. North of the mountains, the land merges into desert—the Rub'al Khali, or Empty Quarter, of Saudi Arabia. Wadis cutting through the mountains permit crops to grow. Some of the nation's best farmland is located in the center of this eastern region, on the banks of the wadi Hadhramaut, where coffee and tobacco are major crops.

Away from the mountains, summer temperatures in the south regularly rise above 130°F. (55°C.). Many people in Hodeida and cities in the western highlands work in factories, refining oil and producing leather goods, textiles, processed food, cement, and aluminum goods. Yemen's mines produce salt and small amounts of coal and copper. Fishing is a major industry, especially in the south, where there is a healthy export trade in salted and dried fish. Aden's industry is focused for the most part on the needs of the ships that stop for refueling. Its refinery creates oil products out of imported crude oil. An estimated 40 to 50 percent of Yemenis live on less than $2 a day, making Yemen the poorest country in the Arab world. Joblessness is high throughout the nation, and both water and oil resources are declining. The government is attempting to diversity the economy to reduce Yemen's dependence on oil. In 2009, Yemen began exporting liquefied natural gas as part of its economic diversification program. People Yemen has a population of over 24 million people. All Yemenis speak Arabic.

Inhabitants of the Mahra area, in the extreme east, speak several non-Arabic languages as well. Islam was brought to Yemen in A.D. 630, only a few years after the Prophet Mohammed began preaching, and today, all but a handful of Yemenis are Muslim. About two-thirds belong to the Shafi'i sect of Islam's Sunni branch, one-third to the Zaidi sect of the Shi'a branch. Most of the Zaidis live in the western highlands, generally in small villages. There, villagers farm or keep sheep, goats, cattle, and camels. About 10 percent of the southerners are Bedouins, nomadic herders who raise a good portion of the nation's livestock. Tribal loyalties—the sense of being united by a common ancestor—are strong in Yemen, particularly in the north. Class distinctions are important, too. Landowners (sayyids) and bureaucrats (qadis) are on the top of the Yemeni social ladder. Service or crafts people (bani kums), such as butchers and carpenters, are below them.

At the bottom of the social scale are the abid, people of African ancestry who are descended from slaves. Slavery was not banned in North Yemen until 1967. Far weaker than it once was, this class system still guides personal decisions, especially in the western highlands. For example, women will marry into a class above theirs but never into a lower one. The status of women has been a special concern in the south, where the government of South Yemen made special efforts to give women more power over their lives. Women were the target of special literacy campaigns, and they were encouraged to work outside their homes. In the north, women in the villages work unveiled in the fields. In the cities, they are wrapped from head to toe in bright shawls, and they are heavily veiled whenever they venture outside their homes. The average Yemeni woman bears seven children. Yemeni men wear tight-fitting caps embroidered with gold or silver threads. Over these they wind brightly colored turbans. A man's robe, which reaches below the knees, is worn with an embroidered leather belt. A curved dagger, or jambiya, is often proudly thrust in the belt.

Since the 1960s, Yemenis in the north and the south have worked hard to make medical care and schooling more widely available. In the south, an emphasis on health care raised life expectancy from 36 years in 1960 to about 50 years in 1990. The percentage of southerners able to read jumped from 15 to 32 percent between 1967 and 1988. Northerners saw gains, too, although less spectacular ones. By 2004, the country's life expectancy exceeded 61 years. About 70 percent of all males and 30 percent of all females can read. History Yemen was once part of several ancient kingdoms, including the Himyarite kingdom, which was conquered in 525 by Christian Ethiopians. Christian and Jewish groups were already living there at the time. Persians defeated the Ethiopians 50 years later. Turkey controlled the north for long periods from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

A line of imams (spiritual rulers) took over after Yemen achieved independence in 1918, until a 1962 coup made North Yemen a republic. History took a different course in the south. The British West India Company occupied Aden, a small fishing port, in 1839. As a British colony, Aden became a trading center after the Suez Canal opened in 1869. Britain eventually brought the region's sultanates, emirates, and sheikhdoms under its influence. In 1965, it persuaded 16 of these tiny states, including Aden, to form the Federation of South Arabia. The British withdrew in 1967, and a Marxist group, the National Liberation Front (NLF), took charge of these 16 states and four others. Using the Soviet Union as its model, the NLF tried to transform South Yemen into the Arab world's only socialist state. But East Bloc aid failed to end its poverty. The two Yemens merged on May 22, 1990. Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president of North Yemen, then became head of an interim presidential council.

Because of its pro-Iraqi stance during the 1991 Gulf War, Yemen lost much foreign aid, although this shortfall was partially offset by rising oil revenues. In the Arabian Peninsula's first democratic elections, a single-house parliament was elected in 1993 under a new constitution. It elected a new presidential council that chose Saleh as its leader. In 1994, South Yemen tried to secede but was defeated when North Yemeni troops captured Aden. Subsequently, Yemen and Saudi Arabia settled a long-standing border dispute. Saleh won the nation's first direct presidential elections in 1999 and was reelected in 2006. Since 2004, the government has been battling a Shi'ite Houthi insurgency in the north. Saudi forces were drawn into the struggle in 2009. The Yemeni government also faced an ongoing secessionist movement in the south. Meanwhile, the terrorist group, Al Qaeda, found refuge in the remote and lawless tribal areas of southern and eastern Yemen. In 2009, they formed a group called Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which was linked to several terrorist plots against the United States.

In January 2011, Yemen experienced anti-government protests similar to those that ousted the long-time leaders of Tunisia and Egypt that year. In response, President Saleh promised to step down when his term ends in 2013 and to abandon plans to have his son succeed him. He also said he would hold a referendum on a new constitution that would give the legislature a greater say in governing. Despite the concessions, the protests continued. Saleh left Yemen temporarily for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia after being seriously injured in a June 3, 2011, bomb attack in the mosque of the palace complex. As the year progressed, protests continued; fuel became scarce; and water and food prices soared. Saleh returned to Yemen in February 2012, but much had changed. His long rule had ended with the election of a new president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the former vice president. President Hadi was chosen as a consensus candidate by the former ruling party and the opposition. He ran unopposed in the election, which nevertheless attracted heavy voter turnout.

The new president faces many challenges, including the continuing separatist movement in the south, the fight against Al Qaeda, and the lingering political influence of Saleh. The new president tried to remove Saleh's relatives and loyalists from military, intelligence, and administrative posts, with mixed results. In May 2012, however, the Yemeni army launched a surprisingly successful offensive in the south, where an AQAP affiliate had made inroads over the past year. A series of strikes and counterstrikes followed. The militants responded with a wave of attacks by suicide bombers, one of which killed the commander of the southern offensive. On September 10, Yemeni forces claimed to have killed the second in command of AQAP. The defense minister survived an apparent assassination attempt the following day. Also on September 11, 2012, the U.S. embassy was attacked as part of a wave of anti-American demonstrations that swept much of the Arab world that day. A year later, in August 2013, many foreign embassies in Yemen were temporarily closed amid threats of a major terrorist attack, and Westerners were urged to leave the country. This time, no attack occurred.

In December 2013, as part of a dialogue on a new constitution launched by Hadi's government, representatives of Yemen's political groups agreed to divide the country into six regions, rather than two, and to give these regions a significant degree of self-rule. A restructured upper legislative house would give greater representation to southern separatists and northern Houthi rebels. Hadi was to remain in office pending a referendum on the constitution and new general elections. The elections, however, were indefinitely postponed. Moreover, some southerners called for the nation to be divided into two regions, to give the south parity with the north. The agreement was considered a first step in restoring stability by creating a federal, democratic state. But disagreements on the details remained, as did ongoing secessionist pressures in the volatile south Thus, despite an agreement on peaceful change, the country's divisions remained. They gradually evolved into a bitter sectarian power struggle. Houthi protesters who sought to restore oil subsidies set up camps around Sanaa. In September 2014, they occupied various ministries and brought down the government.

In exchange for a peace accord with President Hadi, the Houthis demanded a substantial presence in the new government and a voice in writing the new constitution. On October 13, Hadi appointed a prime minister acceptable to the Houthis, Khalid Baha. The Houthis then expanded their campaign; they militarily challenged AQAP in its central Yemen heartland. AQAP then recruited various Sunni tribes to help it repel the Houthi incursions. In January 2015 the Houthis seized control of the capital and staged an effective coup. Hadi and the entire cabinet resigned on January 22. In February the Houthis announced a revolutionary committee would act as an interim government and would choose a presidential council to replace Hadi. Hadi escaped from house arrest and tried to reassert his presidential authority from Aden before fleeing to Saudi Arabia in March to ask for help. Various groups in Yemen refused to recognize the authority of the Houthis, among them supporters of Hadi, southern separatists, and AQAP and its Sunni allies. On the other hand, the Houthis had the support of Iran and former Yemeni president Saleh. Civil war engulfed the country. The fighting killed hundreds of civilians.

Many also died as a result of a Saudi-led air campaign launched in March against Houthi military resources. In addition, the air campaign and a blockade of Yemen's ports and airports created shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The result was a massive humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Yemenis sought refuge in nearby countries such as Djibouti, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. In May the Saudis suspended the air campaign for five days to allow the delivery of humanitarian supplies. However, they then resumed the bombing. Moreover, the conflict escalated as Houthi allies began making raids over the Saudi border. The Houthis began firing Scud missiles into Saudi Arabia in June. That month the United Nations (UN)-sponsored talks broke down before the parties even reached the table. In the course of the summer, the Saudi-led campaign recaptured large parts of southern Yemen, including—in July—Aden. President Hadi returned to Yemen in September. In October the Hadi government and the rebels agreed to begin peace talks at the end of the month. Key factions of the Houthi had already accepted a UN peace proposal requiring they return the land they had seized since the end of 2014.

The Saudis, who had come under mounting criticism for the humanitarian toll of their campaign, endorsed the talks. By that time, the UN estimated that at least 4,500 civilians had been killed since March and that 80 percent of Yemen's children needed humanitarian aid. Reviewed by Richard W.

Bulliet Middle East Institute, Columbia University 01/03/2016 chief of state: President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (since 21 February 2012); note - President HADI submitted his resignation in late January 2015, but Parliament did not convene to accept it; he later rescinded his resignation and remains the internationally recognized president of Yemen; he fled to Saudi Arabia in late March 2015 but returned in November after anti-Huthi forces aided by a Saudi-led coalition regained control of Aden from the Huthis in July; head of government: Prime Minister Khalid Mahfuz BAHAH; note - BAHAH submitted his resignation in late January 2015, but Parliament did not convene to accept it; BAHAH later rescinded his resignation and remains prime minister; on 13 April he was named vice president and holds both positions; he returned to Yemen temporarily in September 2015 but continues to be based outside the country; cabinet: appointed by the president; elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term

); last election held on 21 February 2012 (next election NA); note - a special election held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011; vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president; election results: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates.

Background: North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a ceasefire that continues to hold. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals including secession.

Public rallies in Sana'a against President SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's third refusal to sign the GCC agreement in late May led to heavy street fighting, and in early June an explosion at the mosque in the presidential compound injured SALIH, who was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for treatment. June witnessed an increasing number of clashes with government and anti-government forces - some with links to al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula - in a number of cities and towns in southern Yemen. In late September, SALIH returned to Sanaa amid heavy shelling and machinegun fire between loyal regime forces and defector military forces.

The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, President SALIH signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down, to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd al-Rabuh Mansur HADI, and to call for early elections in February 2012. Economy - overview: 21/02/2016 Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy. War in 2015 nearly brought the country’s exports to a halt, pressured the Yemeni currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. Approximately 80% of the population was in need of humanitarian assistance by the end of 2015. Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Oil and gas revenues accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue.

The Yemeni Government regularly faces annual budget shortfalls and has tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. As part of these reform efforts Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas in October 2009. The international community supported Yemen’s efforts toward economic and political reform in part by establishing the Friends of Yemen group. In 2012, the Friends of Yemen pledged nearly $7 billion in assistance to Yemen. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen. The conflict in 2015 has stalled these reform efforts, however. Yemen will continue to need international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity. Disputes - international: Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities.

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 179,845 (Somalia). IDPs: at least 550,000 (Sa'ada conflict; clashes between AQAP and Government forces) (2012). Trafficking in persons: current situation: Yemen is a country of origin and, to a much lesser extent, a transit and destination country for men, women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Yemeni children, mostly boys, migrate to the Yemeni cities, Saudi Arabia or, to a lesser extent, to Oman and are forced to work in domestic service, small shops, or as beggars; some of these children are subjected to prostitution; to a lesser extent, Yemen is also a source country for girls subjected to sex trafficking within the country and in Saudi Arabia.

tier rating: Tier 3 - the Yemeni cabinet approved the country's accession to the 2000 UN Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Protocol and the government reportedly prosecuted and convicted traffickers; despite these efforts, the Yemeni Government did not take steps to address trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation or to institute formal procedures to identify and protect victims of trafficking (2011). If you liked this site then please accept this graphic for your visiting, or: LISTEN TO OUR HYMN IF YOU GO THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: Our Travel Warning urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen. The threat level in Yemen is extremely high, due to both the threat of terrorism and political instability. There is ongoing civil unrest throughout the country, related to the political transition that is under way following a year of protests against the regime of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Large-scale protests are common in cities across Yemen including, but not limited to, Sana’a, Taiz, Hudadah, and Aden. Violent clashes have taken place in Sana'a, and could reoccur without notice. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.

There has been a recent surge in localized neighborhood protests coupled with road blockages by citizens demanding lower fuel prices and increased electricity. There are also widespread protests against government and security officials accused of corruption. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration. Terrorist organizations continue to be active in Yemen, particularly in Yemen’s restive south, including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which now controls significant territory, particularly in Abyan governorate. The U.S. government remains concerned about possible attacks against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests. Piracy in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean is also a security threat to maritime activities in the region. An increasing number of sometimes violent anti-government demonstrations have taken place across Yemen’s southern governorates, including the major cities of Aden, Taiz, Ibb, and Mukalla. Demonstrations may draw tens of thousands of participants and have resulted in hundreds of injuries and deaths among demonstrators and government security forces. U.S. citizens should be aware of the likelihood of encountering such demonstrations when traveling to the southern governorates.

Terrorists often do not distinguish between U.S. government personnel and private U.S. citizens. Terrorists may target areas frequented by Westerners, such as tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, and other frequently visited areas. U.S. citizens are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and be aware of their surroundings. U.S. citizens remain vulnerable to kidnappings and terrorist attacks, especially when in transit to and from residences or workplaces. All U.S. citizens are reminded to vary their routes and times, remain vigilant, report suspicious incidents to the Embassy, lock car windows and doors, and carry a cell phone. Throughout the country, U.S. citizens are urged to exercise particular caution at locations where large groups of expatriates have gathered. AQAP remains an active threat against U.S. personnel and interests in Yemen. AQAP publicly claimed responsibility for the attempted attack aboard Northwest Airlines flight 253 on December 25, 2009. In the same statement, the group also made threats against Westerners working in embassies and elsewhere.

AQAP also claimed responsibility for a September 25, 2010 attack in Sana’a during which two unidentified gunmen fired on a bus belonging to the Political Security Organization (PSO). Ten Yemeni security agents were wounded, two seriously. There have been numerous other terrorist incidents in Sana’a. On October 6, 2010, the motorcade of the British Deputy Head of Mission was attacked by an unknown number of assailants. One member of the British Embassy staff was injured. On April 26, 2010, the motorcade of the British Ambassador to Yemen was attacked in Sana’a by a lone suicide bomber. The Ambassador was not hurt. The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a closed for two days in January 2010 in response to ongoing threats against U.S. interests in Yemen. The Yemeni government fought a prolonged war against Houthi rebels in the north of the country between 2004 and 2010.

The government declared a ceasefire, but the fighting, which originated in Sa’ada governorate, continues between the Houthis and their tribal adversaries in northern Yemen, and has spread to the neighboring governorates of Al-Jawf, Amran, and Hajja. In late 2011 and early 2012, hundreds of Houthi militants and other armed irregular forces were killed in Sa’ada and Hajja governorates. The fighting is ongoing, extremely violent and unpredictable. Anti-American sentiment is also higher in the north than in other parts of Yemen, and U.S. citizens are cautioned against travelling in the region. Throughout 2011, there was ongoing unrest in Aden and surrounding areas in the south of the country. Anti-government protests, demonstrations by a secessionist movement, and increased terrorist activity by AQAP and associated groups have raised tensions in the city and have resulted in loss of life. On July 20, 2011, a UK citizen working as a maritime security contractor was killed when his car exploded in a residential neighborhood in Aden. AQAP is suspected in the attack, and in a series of other attacks against Yemeni security personnel. In addition, U.S.

citizens are urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of such objects to local authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended and should be locked at all times. U.S. citizens in Yemen are urged to register and remain in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a for updated security information (see the section on Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)/Embassy Location above). From time to time, the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a may temporarily close or suspend public services as necessary to review its security posture. Travel on roads between cities throughout Yemen can be dangerous. Armed carjacking, especially of four-wheel-drive vehicles, occurs in many parts of the country, including the capital. Yemeni security officials advise against casual travel to rural areas. The U.S. Embassy restricts the travel of its own personnel within Yemen, while the Government of Yemen also sometimes places restrictions on U.S. citizens traveling outside Sana’a. Please check with the Embassy for the latest restrictions. Based on previous abductions of foreigners in Yemen, as well as in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait, the Embassy recommends that U.S.

citizens with doubts about the identity of security or police personnel on the roads remain in their vehicles, roll up their windows, and contact the Embassy. For additional information on travel by road in Yemen, see the Traffic Safety and Road Conditions section below. The U.S. Embassy wishes to remind all U.S. citizens of the threat of kidnapping throughout Yemen. As reported in the local and international media, a Norwegian national working for the United Nations was abducted on January 15, 2012 in the Hadda neighborhood of Sana'a, which is home to many Westerners. Tribesmen also released six U.N. aid workers in Yemen in early February 2012, two days after they were kidnapped, to secure the release of a prisoner. U.S. citizens in Yemen should exercise caution and take prudent security measures in all areas frequented by Westerners, including maintaining a high level of vigilance, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel, and making contingency emergency plans such as ensuring travel documents are current. Travel is particularly dangerous in the tribal areas north and east of Sana’a, where kidnappings have occurred.

On May 24, 2010, armed Yemeni tribesmen kidnapped two U.S. citizen tourists and their Yemeni driver and translator near Sana’a. In May of 2011 three French aid workers based in Sayun, Hadramaut were kidnapped by AQAP members. They were eventually released in November 2011. Boats traveling through the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden, including near the island of Socotra, are at risk of pirate attacks. In 2010 and 2011 there were 154 documented pirate attacks in Yemeni territorial waters in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Attacks in the Gulf of Aden alone resulted in six vessels and 157 crew members currently being held for ransom. The threat of piracy extends into the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa as well. For further information, see our International Maritime Piracy Fact Sheet . If travel to any of these areas is unavoidable, travelers may reduce the risk to personal security if such travel is undertaken by air. Other potential hazards to travelers include land mines and unexploded ordnance from the 1994 civil war and other conflicts.

This is of particular concern in the six southern provinces. Most minefields have been identified and cordoned off, but there are still undetected minefields in Yemen. CRIME: Yemen is considered a medium to high threat environment for crime. Common petty or street crime exists in cities, particularly when valuables and cash are left in plain view. Burglaries and home invasions are not common within the expatriate community, but violence against expatriates rose in 2011 in large part due to government instability and current economic conditions. There has also been an increase in reports of carjackings, including within the expatriate community. The Yemeni justice system has become almost completely paralyzed since the outbreak of political unrest in early 2010. Government ineffectiveness also led to a rise in crimes such as forgeries of land deeds and vehicle documents and corrupt business transactions. The political transition which begins with the February 21, 2012 election, is expected to improve the functioning of Yemen’s justice system and other government agencies, although it will be a slow progress, and travelers should not depend upon significant assistance from the Yemeni government in the near term.

Background: North Yemen became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting that ended in early 2010 with a cease-fire. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008.

Public rallies in Sana'a against then President SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GGC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred his powers.

In accordance with the GCC initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014. Subsequent steps in the transition process include constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections. Since the Arab Awakening in 2011, the Huthis have expanded their influence, culminating in a major offensive against military units and tribes affiliated with their Yemeni rivals and enabling their forces to overrun the capital, Sana'a, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis attacked the presidential palace and President HADI's residence and surrounded key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden, and in February 2015 rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched Operation Decisive Storm, a series of airstrikes against Huthi and Huthi-affiliated forces.

In April 2015, the Saudi Government announced completion of the operation and initiated Operation Restoring Hope, which focuses on humanitarian aid and a return to political dialogue. However, fighting continued through the remainder of 2015 and into early 2016. In April, the UN brokered a "cessation of hostilities" among the warring parties and initiated peace talks in Kuwait.

Geography :: YEMEN geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: 22 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz Independence: 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became independent in November 1918 (from the

 Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK) chief of state: President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (since 21 February 2012); Vice President Mohsin al-AHMAR, Gen.

(since 3 April 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmad Obaid bin DAGHIR (since 3 April 2016) cabinet: appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 21 February 2012 (next election NA); note - a special election held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011; vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis consists of the Shura Council or Majlis Alshoora (111 seats; members appointed by the president; member tenure NA) and the House of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwaab (301 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms) elections:

 last held on 27 April 2003 (next scheduled for April 2009 but postponed indefinitely) election results: House of Representatives percent of vote by party - GPC 58.0%, Islah 22.6%, YSP 3.8%, Unionist Party 1.9%, other 13.7%; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 46, YSP 8, Nasserist Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party 2, independent 4 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the president of the Court, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, chaired by the president of the republic and consisting of 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts General People's Congress or GPC [Ali Abdallah SALIH] National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Qassem

 Salam SAID] Nasserist Unionist People's Organization [Abdallah NU'MAN] Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI, Abdul Wahab al-ANSI] Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Dr.

Abd al-Rahman Umar al-SAQQAF] note: US Embassy operations were suspended on 10 February 2015 amid growing violence; in March 2015, a team of US diplomats established the Yemen Affairs Unit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew H. TUELLER (since 10 June 2014) embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext.

2153 or 2266 FAX: [967] (1) 303-182 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band name: "al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic) lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI note: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990 Economy :: YEMEN Economy - overview: Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues.

The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. At least 82% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and has tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. As part of these reform efforts, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas in October 2009. The international community supported Yemen’s efforts toward economic and political reform in part by establishing the Friends of Yemen group. In 2012, the Friends of Yemen pledged nearly $7 billion in assistance to Yemen. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen.

However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts. Rebel Huthi groups have interfered with Ministry of Finance and Central Bank operations and diverted funds for their own use. Yemen’s Central Bank reserves, which stood at $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, currently stand at $1.5 billion. The Central Bank is exposed to approximately $7 billion in overdraft, more than three times the legal limit, directly linked to the Huthis withdrawing $116 million on a monthly basis. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. The Port of Hudaydah, which handles 60% of Yemen’s commercial traffic, was damaged in August 2015 as a result of the conflict and is only operating at 50% capacity. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014. Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy.

Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity.

refugees (country of origin): 5,645 (Ethiopia) (2015); 255,121 (Somalia) (2016) IDPs: 2,179,278 (conflict in Sa'ada Governorate; clashes between al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and government forces) (2016) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Yemen is a source and, to a lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; trafficking activities grew in Yemen in 2014, as the country’s security situation deteriorated and poverty worsened; armed groups increased their recruitment of Yemeni children as combatants or checkpoint guards, and the Yemeni military and security forces continue to use child soldiers; some other Yemeni children, mostly boys, migrate to Yemeni cities or Saudi Arabia and, less frequently Oman, where they end up as beggars, drug smugglers, prostitutes, or forced laborers in domestic service or small shops; Yemeni children increasingly are also subjected to sex trafficking in country and in Saudi Arabia; tens of thousands of Yemeni

 migrant workers deported from Saudi Arabia and thousands of Syrian refugees are vulnerable to trafficking; additionally, Yemen is a destination and transit country for women and children from the Horn of Africa who are looking for work or receive fraudulent job offers in the Gulf states but are subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor upon arrival; reports indicate that adults and children are still sold or inherited as slaves in Yemen tier rating: Tier 3 – Yemen does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; weak government institutions, corruption, economic problems, security threats, and poor law enforcement capabilities impeded the government’s ability to combat human trafficking; not all forms of trafficking are criminalized, and officials continue to conflate trafficking and smuggling; the status of an anti-trafficking law drafted with assistance from an international organization remains unknown following the dissolution of the government in January 2015; the government did not report efforts to investigate, prosecute, or convict anyone of trafficking or slavery offenses, including complicit officials, despite reports of officials willfully ignoring trafficking crimes and using child soldiers in the government’s armed forces; the government acknowledged the use of child soldiers and signed a UN action plan to end the practice in 2014 but made

 no efforts to release child soldiers from the military and provide them with rehabilitative services; authorities failed to identify victims and refer them to protective services; the status of a draft national anti-trafficking strategy remains unknown (2015) Gulf of Aden Counterterrorism Forum, February 3-5, 2014, Djibouti, Djibouti Gulf of Aden Counterterrorism Forum Washington, DC February 3, 2014 The Gulf of Aden Counterterrorism Forum is a regional forum that addresses counterterrorism issues, focusing on the transnational threat posed by al-Shabaab and al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

One of the main goals of the Forum is to build U.S. partner nation capacity to counter al-Shabaab and AQAP by linking law enforcement, justice, and security officials in Yemen with their counterparts in Somalia and Djibouti. The Forum aims to help identify the steps needed to enhance counterterrorism efforts and cooperation in the region and create a lasting dialogue between Somali, Yemeni, and Djiboutian officials. In April 2013, the Government of Yemen and U.S. Embassy Sanaa co-hosted the First Gulf of Aden Regional Counterterrorism Forum in Sanaa, Yemen. The first of its kind, the meeting brought Yemeni government and security officials from the ministerial and working levels together with their counterparts from Djibouti and Somalia. The participants discussed security challenges facing the region, including threats posed by terrorist groups such as AQAP and al-Shabaab; strengthening rule-of-law institutions while respecting human rights; anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism; border security; maritime security and piracy; and countering radicalization to violence and violent extremism. The second Gulf of Aden Counterterrorism Forum, co-hosted by the Government of Djibouti and U.S.

Embassy Djibouti, begins on February 3, 2013 in Djibouti. Approximately 60 government officials from Yemen, Somalia, and Djibouti will participate in the three-day event, with U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, Geeta Pasi, heading the U.S. delegation. Participants will discuss developments in the region since the first Forum occurred last April and focus on the role of law enforcement and the military in countering terrorism; strengthening rule-of-law institutions while respecting human rights; crisis response; information sharing; and border security. A third Forum will be held later in 2014. In This Section:

Question: The three countries which border the Gulf of Aden are the Yemeni Republic, the Republic of Djibouti, and...?
Answer: Somalia