Yemen is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, and the capital city of Sana. In the early 20th century, Yemen was divided by  Ottoman and British empires, and the  Zaydi Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen was established following WWI in northern Yemen. The Yemen Arab Republic was eventually established in 1962. In 1967, southern Yemen became independent of British rule, and became a Marxist state. The northern and southern states merged in 1990, to form the Yemen republic.

It is the poorest country in the Middle East. The country ranks 164 out of 182 (surveyed) in a 2009 Perception Index by the Transparency International corruption survey. Yemen is a member of the United Nations, Arab League, G-77, and Non-Aligned Movement, amongst other international organizations. The country has been in a political crisis since 2011, and street protests occur regularly against corruption, poverty, and unemployment.

Terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, have infiltrated Yemen. The US and CIA have engaged in drone strikes against the country dating back to 2009. In recent years, ISIL and groups like AQAP, have continued to seize territories in Yemen, and fight US forces and combative forces interfering in the region.

Under the country’s 1991 Constitution, a President is elected and is named head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was the first elected President in 1991, in unified Yemen.

The country’s legal system is comprised of separate commercial courts and the Supreme Court in Sana. The Constitution calls for an independent judiciary system, with  Sharia as the main source of law in the country. The country’s legal system is also based on the Napoleonic system and Egyptian Law. The Supreme Judicial Council heads the legal system, although the constitution calls for an independent judiciary. Many hallmarks of the system may sound familiar:  defendants are innocent until they are not, defendants are entitled to counsel, however, that doesn’t always happen.  Trials are public, but there are not juries, judges hear criminal cases.  However, the judicial system is often pressured by tribal leaders and judgments are not often enforced, as part of the widespread corruption in this country.

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