Africa & Middle East · reference
🇾🇪 Yemen
Fragmented republic at war · rival authorities control different regions
SystemFragmented republic at war · rival authorities control different regions
Head of stateRashad al-Alimi, chairing the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council · Houthi authorities under Abdul-Malik al-Houthi rule Sanaa and most of the population
Head of governmentPrime Minister Shaya al-Zindani (recognised government, based in Aden)
LegislatureA 301-seat House of Representatives last elected in 2003 · a rival Houthi-run council sits in Sanaa
ElectionsNo elections since 2003 · war and territorial division have made national voting impossible
Last election2003-04-27 · parliamentary election
The war that began with the Houthi takeover of Sanaa in 2014 has settled into a divided map, with the recognised government confined to the south and east. Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping from 2023 drew US and Israeli strikes, one of which killed the Houthi-appointed prime minister in 2025. Yemen remains one of the world's gravest humanitarian crises, with most people dependent on aid.
Live encyclopedic leader and election records · verified 2026-07-02
The Margin models elections where a competitive public record exists · all countries