Politics of Yemen

[1] However, the deposed president, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, has declared he is still in office and is working to establish a rival government in Aden.

[2] Prior to the coup, Yemen's politics nominally took place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic.

[3][4] Although it is notionally a multi-party system, in reality, it is completely dominated by one party, the General People's Congress, and had been since unification.

Zaidiyyah theology differed from Ismailis or Twelver Shi'ites by stressing the presence of an active and visible imam as leader.

While in the North, during the civil war, the pro-monarch and pro-republican forces fought for power, the South of Yemen was under British control.

Following this Yemen suffered from a highly fractured political landscape, which is the legacy of the regime of President Ali Abd Allah Saleh, who came to power in 1978 and formally resigned his office in February 2012.

The head of Islaah, Paramount Hashid Sheik Abdallah Bin Husayn Al-Ahmar, was the speaker of Parliament.

From late 1991 through early 1992, deteriorating economic conditions led to significant domestic unrest, including several riots.

In August Vice President al Baydh exiled himself voluntarily to Aden, and the country's general security situation deteriorated as political rivals settled scores and tribal elements took advantage of the widespread unrest.

In January 1994, representatives of the main political parties signed a document of pledge and accord in Amman, Jordan, that was designed to resolve the ongoing crisis.

The protests were initially against unemployment, economic conditions, and corruption, as well as against the government's proposals to modify the constitution of Yemen.

Eventually, a Saudi-brokered agreement on Saleh's resignation and 2012 Presidential election saw the installation of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi as an interim President.

In November 2013 U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar told The Associated Press Hadi will remain president after February 2014 because the transition is not likely to be completed earlier due to "obstruction" from former regime loyalists.

"[9] There were some problems with underage voting, confiscation of ballot boxes, voter intimidation, and election-related violence; moreover, the political opposition in Yemen has little access to the media, since most outlets are owned or otherwise controlled by the government.

[10] The ruling party GPC called upon the opposition to "acquaint themselves with constitutional systems before starting to talk every now and then about...rosy dreams and illusions".

Yemen is divided into 21 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and the capital city of Sana'a (Amanat Al-Asimah).

In rural Yemen, direct state control is weak, with tribal confederations acting as autonomous sub-states.