For Yemenis, qat is one of the sole unifiers of a very divided country. The chewing habit is one of the few things that Zaidi tribesmen, a Shiite sect of the northern highlands, have in common with Sunni merchants of the southern port city of Aden, who adhere to the Shafii doctrine. Many Yemenis think qat -- with its ability to form and cement strong bonds -- has helped facilitate mediation of many of the country's tribal conflicts.
Above are two men who have formed a qat friendship in Yemen's mountains.
Peer Gatter/The Politics of Qat
