The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen became independent as the "People's Republic of Southern Yemen" in November 1967, after the British withdrawal from the Federation of South Arabia and the Protectorate of South Arabia. In May 1990, South Yemen unified with the Yemen Arab Republic (commonly referred to as North Yemen) to form the united Republic of Yemen. During the MayâÂÂJuly 1994 Civil War, South Yemen seceded from the united Yemen and established the short-lived Democratic Republic of Yemen.