Capital: Sanaa
Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Abyan, Aden, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah,
Al Mahwit, Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramaut, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib,
Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz
note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa
Independence: 22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 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 independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
Constitution: 16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994
Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May
1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the
merger of North and South Yemen) was elected for a five-year term by
the House of Representatives; election last held 1 October 1994
(next to be held NA 1999); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab
Mansur al-HADI (since NA October 1994) was appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Aziz ABD AL-GHANI (since
NA October 1994) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime
Ministers Abd al-Wahhab al-ANISI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Abd
al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Muhammad Said
al-ATTAR (since NA October 1994), and Abd al-Qadir al-BA JAMAL
(since NA October 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: elections last held 27 April 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (301 total) GPC 124, Islaah 61, YSP 55, others 13, independents 47, election nullified 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court