According to the official description, the red stands for unity and the bloodshed of martyrs, the white for a bright future, and the black for the supposed dark past. The flag is graphically identical to the flag of theLibyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1972.[1]
The Kingdom of Yemen was never aBritish protectorate, but was nominally part of theOttoman Empire until 1918 and was independent thereafter. Independently, here were two British protectorates (known as theEastern andWestern Aden Protectorates) which contained 24 sultanates, emirates and sheikhdoms in the hinterland of Aden.[6]
The flag was in use until 1962 when the imam was overthrown and the Yemen Arab Republic was established. Acivil war between republicans (supported byEgypt) and royalists (supported bySaudi Arabia) continued until 1970, with the royalist side continuing to use the flag of the kingdom.[6]
A horizontal tricolour of red, white, and black with a green five-pointed star in the centre
When theEgyptian-backedYemen Arab Republic revolted against the imamate in 1962, a version of theArab Liberation Flag with one green star in the center of the white band which symbolized unity and independence.[7]
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