Yemen's State Within a Failed State

A rare journey to the rugged province of Saada, the battle-torn region that has fallen out of the government's control during the past year.

PHOTOS BY TOM FINN | JANUARY 27, 2012

Two guards in the heavily fortified compound of Saada Governor Sheikh Farris Manaa, a notorious arms dealer accused by the U.N. Security Council of trafficking arms to Somali insurgent group al-Shabab. A former ally of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Manaa broke ranks with the government after he was imprisoned in March 2010. He was sworn in by the Houthis as de facto governor of the province after they overran the city of Saada city in March. He still receives a government salary.

 

Tom Finn is a freelance journalist based in Sanaa, Yemen.