Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Yemeni Defense Minister declares the end to the northern rebellion is near; bandits in south kill two people

Horn of Africa: Victory in Mogadishu claimed by both Islamists and government forces; Hizb al Islam declares escalation against Transitional Federal Government and African Union troops; al Shabaab pardons Hizb al Islam officials and says it will not go into Kenya; AMISOM has contact with al Shabaab; new Somali national charter under consideration; Somali pirates create exchange in Haradheere

Yemen Security Brief

• Yemeni Defense Minister, Mohammed Nasser Ahmed, visited military units in Sa’ada and said, “I am confident an end to the rebellion is close . . . They are losing their strength and have no become dismissed by the people.”[1]

• Bandits killed two people during an attack on the highway linking Aden to Lahj province.  A security source attributes the attack to armed Southern Movement supporters and says that security forces are still searching for the perpetrators.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Both the government and Islamist forces in Mogadishu have claimed victory following heavy fighting this morning.  Residents report that the fighting broke out along parts of Washadaha Street in Mogadishu as government troops made military movements in the area.  A government official says that the fighting began when Islamists attacked their base.  Islamists claim to have killed twelve soldiers. The government official says that only one soldier was wounded while government troops killed four fighters.[3]

• Hizb al Islam declared that it would redouble its efforts against the Somali Transitional Federal Government and the African Union forces.  The group also says that it has tightened security in areas under its control after the TFG threatened to launch an offensive.[4]

• Al Shabaab allayed fears that it would follow Hizb al Islam leaders into Kenya from the southern Jubba region.  Al Shabaab publicly pardoned Hizb al Islam and said that it would only attack Kenya if the Kenyan government does not become involved in Somalia.[5]

• Ugandan Major General Nathan Mugisha, who commands the Ugandan African Union forces in Somalia, reports that the African Union Mission in Somalia has contact with al Shabaab and is encouraging them to join the peace process.  He added that the peacekeeping force would only remain in Somalia until it is stable.[6]

• Somali Minister of the Constitution and Federalism, Madobe Nunow Mohamed, announced that a new national charter for Somalia could empower civilians.  Delegates from the Somali government and Puntland will draft a new constitution, which will alter the national charter of the Transitional Federal Government.  The new constitution is to be based on Islam and will allow for a federation of regional states like Puntland.  Al Shabaab has rejected the proposed constitution.[7]

• Somali pirates have established a cooperative to finance their activities and are attracting investors in Haradheere.  Investors are able to buy shares and then receive a percentage of the ransom payments.   The administration has no authority in the town, which benefits from the lucrative pirate trade.[8]