Government and Politics of Yemen

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz

Legal System

based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: The presidency and governmental structure of Yemen have been in a state of significant transition and conflict since 2015. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI, who served as Vice President under longtime President Ali Abdallah SALIH, assumed the presidency in February 2012 following SALIH's resignation amid the Arab Spring uprisings. Al-HADI was recognized internationally as Yemen's legitimate president; however, his government was displaced from Sanaa in 2014–2015 by Houthi forces. In April 2022, al-HADI transferred presidential authority to a newly formed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired by Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI, effectively ending his individual tenure. The PLC serves as the internationally recognized governing authority, though its control over Yemeni territory remains contested. head of government: Prime Minister Maeen Abd al-Malik SAEED has served as head of government since October 2018, operating under the framework of the internationally recognized government. The cabinet functions in coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council following the 2022 restructuring of executive authority. cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. elections: Prior to the ongoing conflict, the president was elected by direct popular vote for a seven-year term. The most recent uncontested presidential transition occurred in February 2012, when al-HADI ran unopposed in an election endorsed by the Gulf Cooperation Council as part of a political transition agreement. No free national elections have been held since the outbreak of the civil war in 2015. election results: Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI elected president in February 2012; percent of vote — al-HADI 99.8%, with the election conducted as a single-candidate referendum under the GCC-brokered transition deal.

Legislative Branch

a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001 created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties

there are more than 12 political parties active in Yemen, some of the more prominent are: General People's Congress or GPC [President Ali Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdal Malik al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM]; Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]

Head of State

Ali Abdallah SALIH

Head of Government

Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

Election Results

Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

Constitution

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

Independence

22 May 1990, Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; previously North Yemen had become indep

National Holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

International Organization Participation

ACC, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266 FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Capital City

Sanaa

Location

15 21 N, 44 12 E

Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the name is reputed to mean "well-fortified" in Sabaean, the South Arabian language that went extinct in Yemen in the 6th century A.D.

U.S. Embassy Sana’a Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District P.O. Box 22347 Sana’a, Yemen Telephone: (967) (1) 755-2000 U.S. Citizen Emergency After-Hours Telephone: (967) (1) 755-2000 (press 0 for emergencies) or 737-789-261 (for emergencies involving U.S. citizens that cannot wait until normal business hours). Visa and routine passport questions will not be answered on this phone.

Military Branches

Land Forces, Naval and Coastal Defense Forces (includes Marines), Air and Air Defense Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yemeniya), Border Guards, Stategic Reserve Forces

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 2-year service obligation