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: The U.N. Security Council passed sanctions on Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh; suspected Ansar al Sharia militants detonated car bomb in Abyan; Ansar al Sharia militants detonate SVBIED in Lahij; al Houthis clash with tribesmen in Ma’rib
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab conducts complex attack in Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief
- The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on April 14 imposing sanctions on Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh and al Houthi leader Abdul Malik al Houthi. The sanctions also impose an arms embargo on two al Houthi military leaders and former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and anyone working on their behalf.[1]
- Suspected Ansar al Sharia militants detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) targeting Saleh-loyalist troops in Lawder city, Abyan, on April 14 as al Houthi and al Houthi-allied military units continued to clash with local resistance fighters in the region. There are no casualty reports available from the attack.[2]
- Ansar al Sharia militants claimed credit for a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) targeting al Houthi militants in al Hawta city, Lahij on April 13. The attack reportedly killed ten al Houthis. While Ansar al Sharia claimed credit for the attack via Twitter, Yemeni news sources accredited the attack to popular resistance fighters in the area.[3]
- Al Houthi militants continued to clash with tribesmen in Sirwah, Ma’rib on April 14. A reported 43 al Houthi fighters and 15 tribal militants have died in the clashes. The al Houthis have thus far failed their push into Ma’rib in the face of tribal resistance.[4]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
- Al Shabaab conducted a complex attack in Mogadishu on April 14. The group detonated an SVBIED outside of the Ministry of Education building, which also holds the Ministry of Petroleum, followed by gunmen storming the building. Security forces later retook the building. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed two soldiers and eight civilians.[5]
[1] “Resolution 2216 on Yemen, drafted by GCC,” U.N. Report, April 14, 2015. Available: http://un-report.blogspot.com/2015/04/gcc-draft-resolution-on-yemen-revised.html?m=1
[2] “Car bomb explodes targeting former Republican Guard units in Abyan,” al Masdar, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/70781
“Battles in Abyan,” al Masdar, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/70780
[3] “Sixteen al Houthis dead in Southern provinces,” al Riyadh, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alriyadh.com/1039196
“Houthis surrender mosques in Aden for fear of bombings,” al Eqtisady, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.aleqtisady.com/arabic/198733.html
“Events in Yemen from yesterday,” Ajyal News, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.ajyalnews.net/92125/%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1-%D9%88-%D8%A3%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-87/
[4] “Ma’rib tribes creep towards al Houthi stronghold Sa’ada,” Barakish, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=312026
“Fifty-Five dead in Ma’rib fighting,” Barakish, April 14, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=312042
[5] “Ten dead as al-Shabab attack Somalia ministries,” BBC, April 14. Available: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32299273
“Somalia: Al Shabaab militants storm Ministry of Higher Education HQ, at least 17 dead,” Horseed Media, April 14. Available: http://horseedmedia.net/2015/04/14/somalia-al-shabaab-militants-storm-ministry-of-higher-education-hq-at-least-10-dead/
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