Legal System of Yemen

Yemen is located in Middle East. It is geographically situated in middle east, bordering the arabian sea, gulf of aden, and red sea, between oman and saudi arabia. The country achieved independence on 22 may 1990 (republic of yemen established with the merger of the yemen arab republic [yemen (sanaa) or north yemen] and the people’s democratic republic of yemen [yemen (aden) or south yemen]); notable earlier dates: 1 november 1918 (north yemen independent from the ottoman empire), 27 september 1962 (north yemen becomes republic), 30 november 1967 (south yemen independent from the uk). The capital is Sanaa.

Government Overview

Government Type: in transition Chief of State: Presidential Leadership Council Chairperson Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI (since 19 April 2022) Head of Government: Prime Minister Salim Salih BIN BURAYK (since 9 May 2025) Cabinet: 24 members from northern and southern Yemen, with representatives from Yemen’s major political parties Administrative Divisions: 22 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, ‘Adan (Aden), Ad Dali’, Al Bayda’, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al ‘Asimah (Sanaa City), ‘Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma’rib, Raymah, Sa’dah, San’a’ (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta’izz National Holiday: Unification Day, 22 May (1990) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Yemen is described as mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification)

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions) Judge Selection: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65 Subordinate Courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Note: note: the last legislative election occurred in 2003, and the six-year term for the House of Representatives expired in 2009. Ongoing instability, beginning in 2011, has since prevented new elections. A new Shura Council was appointed in 2021 and is currently chaired by Dr. Ahmed Obaid bin Dagher (as of Jan 2025). Lower Chamber: House of Representatives (Majlis Annowab) (301 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): plurality/majority Upper Chamber: Shura Council (Majlis Alshoora)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen).

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Yemen based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.