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: Houthis continue military buildup in western Yemen; flights from Sana’a to resume on April 24
Somalia: Al Shabaab raids Ethiopian ATMIS base in southern Somalia; ATPU foils an al Shabaab attack in Mombasa; security forces continued operations in central Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
The Houthis reportedly continued their military buildup in western Yemen. Yemeni sources reported the Houthis are constructing fortifications near Taiz city, Taiz governorate, western Yemen, on April 21.[i]
Yemenia Airways announced that Sana’a airport will reopen to flights on April 22.[ii] Yemenia will operate a weekly Sana’a-Amman, Jordan flight beginning on April 24. Opening Sana’a’s airport is one of the UN-backed truce conditions.
Somalia Security Brief:
Al Shabaab raided an Ethiopian ATMIS base in Dinsor, Bay region, southern Somalia, on April 21.[iii] Al Shabaab claimed they wounded four soldiers.
Kenyan Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) foiled an al Shabaab terror attack on April 17 in Mombasa, Coastal County, southern Kenya, on April 13.[iv] The ATPU arrested three suspected al Shabaab militants that are reportedly part of a larger seven-person cell coordinating attacks in the area.[v]
Galmudug State and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) forces continued securing villages in southern Hobyo district and Harardhere district, southern Mudug region, central Somalia, on April 22.[vi] Officials said security forces are still operating in the same villages they had been in earlier in the week. US-trained Danab forces had also been involved in the operations as of April 19.[vii]
[i] Akhbar Yemen, “The Houthi militia is preparing to fight a decisive battle in the second governorate after Marib... after opening the port of Hodeidah and Sanaa airport,” April 21, 2022, https://www.yemenakhbar.com/3079794.
[ii] Al Arabiya, “The first flight from Sana’a airport on Sunday.. activists warn of black tickets,” April 21, 2022, https://www.alarabiya.net/arab-and-world/yemen/2022/04/21/-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%BA%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%B0%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B0%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF.
[iii] Radio al Furqaan, “TFG forces clash with al Shabaab in southern Somalia,” April 21, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/04/howlgallo-khasaare-lagu-gaarsiiyay-shisheeyaha-df-oo-ka-dhacay-koonfurta-dalka/.
[iv] SONNA, “Three arrested as anti-terror police foil Easter attack in coast,” April 20, 2022, https://sonna.so/en/2022/04/20/three-arrested-as-anti-terror-police-foil-easter-attack-in-coast/.
[v] Keydmedia, “Kenya foils a terror attack after the Easter holiday,” April 20, 2022, https://www.keydmedia.net/news/kenya-foils-a-terror-attack-after-the-easter-holiday.
[vi] Horseed Media, “Galmudug: 12 villages in southern Mudug liberated from Al-Shabaab,” April 22, 2022, https://horseedmedia.net/2022/04/22/galmudug-12-tuulo-oo-ka-tirsan-koonfurta-mudug-oo-laga-xoreeyey-al-shabaab/.
[vii] Christopher Muth and Max Ryabinin, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 20, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 20, 2022, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-20-2022.
