The struggle for independence in Southern Yemen was a culmination of decades of colonial presence and growing nationalist sentiments. British control over the area began in the 19th century when they aimed to secure trade routes and protect their interests in India and the Suez Canal. The aftermath of World War II saw a rise in anti-colonial movements across Asia and Africa, inspiring a local resistance in South Yemen. The National Liberation Front (NLF) formed as a leading political body advocating for independence. Throughout the early-to-mid 1960s, the NLF engaged in guerrilla warfare against British forces, which reflected a broader trend of decolonization in the region, putting pressure on colonial powers to relinquish their territories.

On the morning of November 30, 1967, the NLF and other revolutionary forces launched a series of coordinated attacks on British military installations in Aden. As the political atmosphere escalated, British troops found themselves overwhelmed and unable to control the growing insurgency. After years of conflict, discussions began around the fate of British interests and military presence in the area. Ultimately, British officials decided to withdraw and transfer authority to the newly declared People's Republic of Southern Yemen.

The declaration was celebrated throughout the region. It was not just a pivotal moment for the NLF but also a significant event in the broader narrative of Yemen’s unification struggles that followed. Following independence, Southern Yemen aligned itself with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, seeking economic and military support. The complexities of governance and internal divisions would later shape the future of Yemen, as the regions of North and South Yemen operated under different political ideologies until their eventual formal unification in 1990.