Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Three German children kidnapped in June appear in recent video; Rashad al Alimi explains Yemen al Qaeda operations; activists say security forces frequently target journalists 

Horn of Africa: UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Eritrea; al Shabaab enforces Taliban-style dress in Kismayo; bus driver shot and killed in Wadajir district of Mogadishu by men in government military uniforms; militias loyal to Puntland and Galmudug fight in Galkayo

Yemen Security Review

• Three German children who were kidnapped in June are shown alive on a newly released video. The tape does not give any indication as to whether their parents, also kidnapped, are still alive.[1] 

• Rashad al Alimi, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security, told Parliament that the government’s recent operations targeting al Qaeda strongholds were executed with intelligence cooperation from Saudi Arabia and the U.S. in order to combat terrorism. Al Alimi also spoke of alleged al Qaeda plans to establish Islamic emirates in certain Yemeni provinces.[2] 

• In a seminar arranged by the Centre of Training and Protection of Journalists Freedoms, activists noted that the practices of Yemeni security forces frequently violate the constitutionally protected rights. In addition, activists noted that Yemeni law includes many measures that restrict the freedom of expression, especially for the media.[3] 

Horn of Africa Security Review 

• The UN Security Council has passed a resolution placing an arms embargo on Eritrea and imposing travel bans and asset freezes on businesses and individuals.[4] 

• Kismayo residents report that al Shabaab is enforcing Taliban-style dress codes. Men cannot have long hair, have been ordered to grow beards and shave mustaches, and cannot wear Western-style pants below the ankle. Al Shabaab already banned movie theaters, musical ringtones, and dancing at weddings.[5] 

• Armed gunmen shot and killed a bus driver in Wadajir district in Mogadishu. Reportedly, the driver was approached by gunmen wearing Transitional Federal Government uniforms, who demanded money from him. When he refused to pay, the gunmen killed him.[6] 

• Militias loyal to Puntland and Galmudug clashed in Galkayo after a Puntland policeman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on the outskirts of town. Sources report that Puntland forces attacked positions held by Galmudug forces in the south of the town and that Puntland has ordered reinforcements from Garowe.[7]