A country divided
May 1990 North and South Yemen unite under charismatic leader Ali Abdallah Saleh
April 1993 Coalition government made up of ruling parties of former north and south formed
August 1993 Vice President Ali Salim al-Baid withdraws to Aden, alleges south being marginalised
May-June 1994 Saleh declares state of emergency, dismisses al-Baid and other southern government members. Northern forces capture Aden June-September 2004
Government troops battle Shia insurgency led by Hussein al-Houthi in the north January-March 2007 Clashes between security forces and al-Houthi rebels in the north November 2009 Saudi Arabia regains control of northern territory seized by rebels
February 2010 Government signs ceasefire with Houthis, which breaks down in December
November 2011 Saleh agrees to hand over power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi
August 2014 Hadi sacks his cabinet following two weeks of anti-government protests in which Houthi rebels are involved
September 2014 Houthi rebels take control of the most of capital Sanaa January-February 2015
Houthis reject proposaed draft constitution and appoint presidential council to replace Hadi, who flees to Aden September 2015 Hadi returns to Aden after Saudi-backed forces recapture the port city
April 2016 Start of UNsponsored talks between the government on one side and Houthis and Saleh on the other. The talks eventually break down
December 2017 Saleh is reported killed after fierce fighting in the capital Sanaa, months after rift with Houthis
January 2018 Gun battle between UAE-backed separatists — who want an independent South Yemen — and Saudibacked forces, who fought the Houthis together. Separatists take control of Aden — confining the internationally recognised government of Hadi to the presidential palace