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: Hadi government and al Houthis reportedly exchange prisoners in Taiz governorate; anti–al Houthi forces clash with al Houthis in al Hudaydah governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants attack SNA base in south-central Somalia; Islamic State in Somalia confirms foreign fighter’s death; commander of US Special Operations Command Africa gives press briefing on US counterterror efforts in Africa
Yemen Security Brief:
The internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the al Houthi movement reportedly exchanged prisoners in southern Yemen’s Taiz governorate on August 4. Local actors mediated the exchanged, which included nine Hadi government soldiers and 13 al Houthi militants. The Hadi government and the al Houthi movement reportedly exchanged prisoners in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate in late July.[1]
Anti–al Houthi forces clashed with al Houthi militants in al Durayhimi district in southern Yemen’s al Hudaydah governorate on August 5. Anti–al Houthi forces previously clashed with al Houthi militants in al Hudayadh governorate on August 4.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab militants raided a Somali National Army base near Daynunay in south-central Somalia’s Bay region on August 5. The militants killed five SNA soldiers, including an army commander, according to local reporting. SNA forces killed four al Shabaab militants near Dinsor in Bay region in mid-July.[3]
The Islamic State in Somalia released a statement on August 3 confirming the death of a Pakistani foreign fighter near Timirshe in northern Somalia’s Bari region. A Puntland State security force operation supported by a US Africa Command airstrike killed the militant on July 21.[4]
The Commander of US Special Operations Command Africa, Major General Dagvin Anderson, gave a press briefing on US efforts to combat al Qaeda and the Islamic State in Africa on August 4. Maj. Gen. Anderson reported that militant organizations are exploiting local grievances to expand in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, and Somalia. He also said members of al Shabaab’s leadership have contracted COVID-19 and have died. Maj. Gen. Anderson expressed concern over the potential for South African and Russian mercenaries to commit human rights abuses in northern Mozambique.[5]
[2] “The combined forces fail an attack by the Houthi militia, south of Hudaydah,” 7adramout, August 5, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/aden24/7457208/%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%D9%81%D8%B4%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9.html; and “Clashes between the joint and the Houthis in al Duraimi,” 7adramout, August 4, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/aden24/7457208/%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%D9%81%D8%B4%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9.html [3] “Heavy fighting erupts at Daynunay military base,” Voice of America Somali, August 5, 2020, https://www.voasomali.com/a/5531254.html; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 20, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 20, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-20-2020. [4] “ISIS affiliate in Somalia confirms foreign jihadist killed in airstrike,” Garowe, August 5, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/isis-affiliate-in-somalia-confirms-foreign-jihadist-killed-in-airstrike; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 22, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 22, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-22-2020. [5] “Digital Briefing on U.S. Efforts to Combat Terrorism in Africa during COVID,” US Department of State, August 4, 2020, https://www.state.gov/digital-briefing-on-the-u-s-efforts-to-combat-terrorism-in-africa-during-covid/.
[1] “Taiz releases 22 prisoners from the army and Houthis through local mediation in the governorate,” Yemen Akhbar, August 5, 2020, https://www.yemenakhbar.com/2498057: and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-27-2020.
