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: Suspected AQAP and Islamic State militants arrive in Abyan governorate from Ma’rib governorate; STC president calls with Russian foreign minister to discuss regional developments; al Houthis clash with southern Yemeni forces in al Bayda governorate; Hadi government forces repel al Houthi attack in al Hudaydah governorate; al Houthis clash with each other in Taiz governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab executes alleged spies in central Somalia; al Shabaab accuses foreign troops of intentionally spreading coronavirus in Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State militants arrived in Qarn al Klassi and Arqub in Abyan governorate in southern Yemen from Ma’rib governorate in northern Yemen, according to unidentified sources cited in Yemeni local media on April 29. The sources warned that the suspected militants may be preparing an attack.[1]
President of the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) Aydarus al Zubaidi called with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on April 29, according to STC media. The STC claimed that the two discussed regional developments and the STC’s declaration of self-rule in Aden on April 26.[2]
Al Houthi militants clashed with southern Yemeni resistance forces east of Mukayris in al Bayda governorate in southern Yemen on April 29. STC forces claimed gaining control of a road connecting Mukayris to Lawder district in Abyan governorate in southern Yemen in late April.[3]
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi reportedly repelled an al Houthi attack in al Saleh City in al Hudaydah governorate in western Yemen on April 28. Hadi government forces clashed with al Houthi militants in al Saleh City in mid-March.[4]
Al Houthi militants reportedly clashed with each other in Hawban in Taiz governorate in southern Yemen on April 28, killing three civilians. Al Houthi militants from northern Yemen’s Sa’ada governorate clashed with al Houthi militants from Taiz in Taiz governorate in mid-March.[5]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab reportedly executed three men in Ceelbur district in Galgudud region in central Somalia on April 28. Al Shabaab accused the men of spying for the African Union and the Somali and Galgudud regional government. Al Shabaab executed six alleged spies in southern Somalia’s Middle Jubba region in mid-April.[6]
Al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamed Rage, also known as Ali Dheere, released a statement on April 28 suggesting that foreign troops intentionally spread the coronavirus across Somalia. Rage claimed the first case of the virus appeared in the African Union Mission to Somalia forces’ Halane base camp in the Somali capital Mogadishu. He suggested that AMISOM forces and UN workers may have deliberately spread the virus. Somalia announced its first coronavirus case in mid-March.[7]
[1] “Groups affiliated with terrorist groups come from Ma’rib to Shaqra,” 7adramout, April 29, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/4MAY/7371443/%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A9.html.
[2] “STC discusses Yemen developments with Russian minister,” Anadolu Agency, April 29, 2020, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/stc-discusses-yemen-developments-with-russian-minister/1822728; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-27-2020.
[3] “Al Amjad launches massive attack on al Houthis east of Mukayris,” 7adramout, April 29, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/4MAY/7371433/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AF-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D9%85%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3.html; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute,” April 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-27-2020.
[4] “Joint forces respond to al Houthi attacks east of al Saleh inflicting heavy militia losses,” Adnlng, April 29, 2020, http://adnlng.info/news/144876/; “Joint forces demolish al Houthi militia east of al Saleh city,” 7adramout, April 29, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7371546/%C2%A0%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%83-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD.html; and Pamela Makadsi and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-18-2020.
[5] “Civilians killed and injured in clashes between Houthis in Taiz,” Al Mashhad-al Yemeni, April 29, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/164632; and Jessica Kocan and Pamela Makadsi, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 19, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 19, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-19-2020.
[6] “Al-Shabab executes 3 men in El-Buur district, Central Galgugud region,” Goobjoog News, April 29, 2020, http://goobjoog.com/english/al-shabab-executes-3-men-in-el-buur-district-central-galgugud-region/; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 16, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 16, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-16-2020.
[7] “Shabaab Spokesman Suggests Foreign Forces Intentionally Spread Coronavirus in Somalia,” SITE Intelligence Group, April 28, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and “Somalia announces third confirmed Covid-19 case,” Somali Affairs, March 27, 2020, https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/somalia-announces-third-confirmed-covid-19-case/.
