Renowned human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Tawakkol Karman, has passionately called for unity and sovereignty in Yemen as the nation approaches the 34th anniversary of its unification on May 22, 1990.

Karman, widely recognized for her influential role during the 2011 Arab Spring protests, took to Facebook to rally Yemenis in commemorating the historic achievement of unification while emphasizing the importance of countering both internal and external occupation forces that undermine the nation's independence.

Yemen's path towards unification witnessed prolonged divisions between the Arab nationalist-leaning north and the communist-ruled south after the departure of British colonial forces in 1967. It was in 1990 that the two states merged, forming the present-day Republic of Yemen. Although this hard-earned unity faced challenges, including a civil war in 1994 when southern leaders attempted to secede, Yemen remained a unified country.

Karman's influential voice has long advocated for democracy, human rights, and self-determination in Yemen. Emerging as a prominent figure in the 2011 protests that led to the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, she became a symbol of the aspirations for freedom and dignity during the Arab Spring. Her Nobel Prize recognition further amplified her calls for peace and justice in Yemen and beyond.