Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Yemeni Foreign Minister announces goals for upcoming Friends of Yemen meeting

Horn of Africa: al Shabaab militants ambush an AMISOM and SNA convoy in Bay region; Somali military and police forces clash in Middle Shabelle region

Yemen Security Brief

• Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al Qirbi announced on April 17 that he will strongly urge donor nations at the upcoming Friends of Yemen meeting in London to follow through with their pledges of nearly $7.9 billion from 2012, funds which the Yemeni government claims that they have not yet received in full. Qirbi stated that the funds will be used to address Yemen’s security issues.[1]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab militants ambushed an AMISOM and Somali National Army (SNA) convoy travelling from Baidoa to Burhakaba in Bay region on April 17. The militants fired rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) at the convoy, sparking a heavy exchange of gunfire. Four soldiers and six militants were killed in the fighting before the al Shabaab militants retreated.[2]

• Unidentified Somali military forces clashed with Somali police in Balad in Middle Shabelle region on April 18. The fighting broke out after the military forces attacked a Somali police convoy travelling towards Jowhar. Reports indicate that an unspecified number of soldiers and security officials, including the Somali Police Chief of Middle Shabelle region, were killed during the confrontation.