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: Yemeni strike on al Qaeda reportedly kills thirty militants in Shabwa; Tariq al Fadhli threatens to arm followers in response to "official violence"; Joint Meeting Parties hosts open symposium discussing Yemeni issues; Yemen bans imports of well-drillers
Horn of Africa: Hizb al Islam denounces UN sanctions on Eritrea; clashes in Galkayo leave at least nine people dead; Saudi deports over one hundred and thirty Somalis; al Shabaab gains control of more southern districts
Yemen Security Review
A Yemeni air raid in Shabwa province may have killed Anwar al Awlaki, the U.S.-born cleric linked to the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan; al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula's Yemeni leader, Nasser al Wahayshi; and al Wahayshi's Saudi deputy, Saeed al Shehri. The government reports that around thirty militants were killed in the raid. A security official has said that Saad al Fathan and Mohammad Ahmed Saleh al Omir, two AQAP leaders, were among the dead.[1]
During a protest rally in Jinzibar, Tariq al Fadhli, a leader of the Southern Movement, has threatened to arm his followers in response to "official violence." A witness quoted al Fadhli as saying, "We will provide weapons and megaphones to our supporters, and we will protest peacefully, or, failing that, we will confront the official violence."[2]
The Joint Meeting Parties held an open symposium in 'Ibb to discuss the war in the north, the Southern Movement, and corruption. Two MPs, Sakhr al Wajeeh and Aydaroos al Naqeeb, spoke at the symposium.[3]
Yemen has banned imports of well-drillers, including spare parts, as one of its measures to address the water crisis in Yemen. Yemen's supply of groundwater has dropped dramatically in recent years due to illegal well-drilling and the growth of qat.[4]
Horn of Africa Security Review
Hizb al Islam denounced the arms embargo on Eritrea. Sheikh Mohamed Mo'alin Ali, the information secretary of Hizb al Islam, held a press conference in Mogadishu to tell reporters that the UN Security Councilís decision was not right. He added that other governments are intervening in Somalia and did not receive sanctions.[5]
Clashes in Galkayo have left at least nine people dead and dozens wounded, according to elders. The fighting between Galmudug and Puntland forces is ongoing.[6]
Over one hundred and thirty Somali refugees have been deported from Saudi Arabia to Aden Ade airport in Mogadishu. Forty-three out of the deportees are women, who were working in Saudi Arabia without legal documents.[7]
Sheikh Hassan Yacqub Ali, the head of information in Jubba for al Shabaab, said that the group has peacefully taken over Gudha, Badhadhe, Kulbiyow, and Rasknboni districts. Al Shabaab currently controls the entire Lower Jubba region.[8]
