Gulf of Aden Security Review
A regularly updated review of both Yemen and the Horn of Africa covering topics related to security, governance, and militant activity.
Yemen: Al Houthi movement pledges daily ballistic missile attacks against Saudi-led coalition; forces aligned with Tariq Saleh are preparing to join Saudi-led coalition offensive in al Hudaydah governorate; lawyer files lawsuit against Saudi Crown Prince in a French court for alleged crimes in Yemen; AQAP militants detonate IED targeting al Houthi forces in al Bayda governorate; ISIS militants target al Houthi forces with mortar fire in al Bayda governorate
Horn of Africa: U.S. House of Representatives to vote on human rights resolution for Ethiopia; al Shabaab militants attack Kenyan Defense Forces in Fafadun, Gedo region
Yemen Security Brief
The President of the al Houthi Supreme Political Council Saleh al Samad announced that al Houthi forces will launch daily ballistic missile attacks against the Saudi Arabia during a meeting in , central Yemen on April 9. Samad also stated that the al Houthi movement will not hand over any ballistic missiles to the Saudi-led coalition.[1]
Forces aligned with the nephew of the late former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Tariq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh are preparing to join the Saudi-led coalition offensive against al Houthi forces in , western Yemen, according to local sources. Saleh’s forces will reportedly operate under the name “National Resistance Forces.”Tariq Saleh has met with the governor of al Hudaydah governorate on February 2 and Salafi military commanders on March 6 to discuss the al Hudaydah front.[2]
A lawyer representing a Yemeni human rights group filed a lawsuit against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a French court on April 10. Lawyer Joseph Benham is representing Taha Hussein Mohamed, director of the Sana’a-based Legal Center for Rights and Development. The lawsuit accuses Bin Salman of complicity in torture and intentionally targeting civilians in Yemen. Bin Salman is currently in France for an official state visit. Benham reported that France has the jurisdiction to investigate the case because of Bin Salman’s presence in France, but not to arrest Bin Salman due to his diplomatic immunity.[3]
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting al Houthi forces in al Quraishiyah district, northwestern al Bayda governorate, central Yemen on A pril 8.[4]
Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) Wilayat al Bayda militants claimed to target al Houthi forces with mortar fire in al Quraishiyah district, northwestern al Bayda governorate, central Yemen on April 5.[5]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a resolution calling for Ethiopia to respect human rights and promote inclusive governance. House resolution 128 also condemns the killing of peaceful protesters and the detention of opposition activists and journalists. It calls on the Ethiopian government to end the state of emergency. Ethiopian human rights groups and Human Rights Watch called on Congress to pass the resolution in a joint letter on April 9.[6]
Al Shabaab militants attacked a Kenyan forward operating base in in Gedo region, southwestern Somalia on April 9. Al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a convoy of Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) before attacking the convoy with small arms. The KDF and Somali security forces plan to conduct a counter-offensive against al Shabaab in the Gedo region. Al Shabaab last attacked KDF forces in Fafadun on February 27.[7]
[1] “President Samad in an expanded meeting in Dhamar: This year will be a year of ballistic excellence,” Saba, April 9, 2018, http://saba.ye/ar/news492717.htm; and “The Houthis say they are determined to launch a ballistic missile every day on Saudi Arabia,” Al Masdar, April 9, 2018, http://almasdaronline.com/article/98158.
[2]“Pictures of the first field movements of Brigadier General Tariq Saleh,” Erem News, April 9, 2018, https://www.eremnews.com/news/arab-world/1270666; and “The forces of Tariq Saleh enter the front line,” El Maam, April 9, 2018, http://elmaam.net/newsdetails.aspx?id=233741.
[3] “Saudi Crown prince sued in France for complicity in torture,” AP, April 10, 2018, https://apnews.com/40325cf6d8344ea2ae34283f566fbeba/Saudi-Crown-prince-sued-in-France-for-complicity-in-torture; and “Yemeni rights group sues Saudi Crown Prince in France: lawyers,” Reuters, April 10, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-saudi-yemen/yemeni-rights-group-sues-saudi-crown-prince-in-france-lawyers-idUSKBN1HH0YQ.
[4] “AQAP militants targeted al Houthi forces with an IED in al Qurayshiyah district, al Bayda governorate,” Telegram, April 8, 2018.
[5] “ISIS Wilayat al Bayda claim mortar attack against al Houthi forces in al Bayda,” Telegram, April 6, 2018.
[6] “News: U.S Congress set to vote on resolution supporting human rights in Ethiopia,” Addis Standard, April 10, 2018, https://addisstandard.com/news-u-s-congress-set-to-vote-on-resolution-supporting-human-rights-in-ethiopia/; “Ethiopia: Joint Letter About US House Resolution 128,” Human Rights Watch, April 9, 2018, https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/04/09/ethiopia-joint-letter-about-us-house-resolution-128; “Ethiopian soldier kills pregnant woman in Oromia, tensions up,” Africa News, April 9, 2018, http://www.africanews.com/2018/04/09/ethiopian-soldier-kills-pregnant-woman-in-oromia-tensions-up/; and “News: A mother of one, three months pregnant woman shot dead by a member of the military in east Hararghe, Oromia,” Addis Standard, April 9, 2018, https://addisstandard.com/news-a-mother-of-one-three-months-pregnant-woman-shot-dead-by-a-member-of-the-military-in-east-hararghe-oromia/.
[7] “Al-Shabaab reportedly overran Kenyan troops in Somalia,” Radio Shabelle, April 10, 2018, http://radioshabelle.com/al-shabaab-reportedly-overran-kenyan-troops-somalia/; Al Shabaab attacks Kenyan military in Fafadun in Gedo region, Telegram, April 9, 2018; and “Kenyan Gunships Hit Al-Shabab Base in Fahfahdun Locality in Gedo,” Halbeeg, April 10, 2018, https://en.halbeeg.com/2018/04/10/kenyan-gunships-hit-al-shabab-base-in-fahfahdun-locality-in-gedo/.
