Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: New checkpoints erected in al Jawf governorate following AQAP bombings of al Houthis; Amran residents protest arrest of 26 civilians during al Ghadeer celebrations; new airport security system based on U.S. model to be implemented in Yemen

Horn of Africa: Five dead and 17 wounded in fighting between al Shabaab and TFG and AMISOM forces in Mogadishu; al Shabaab and AMISOM both claim victory in recent clashes in Mogadishu; AMISOM statement claims it has gained ground in Mogadishu; UNHCR calls for international aid for Somali civilians

Yemen Security Brief

• Following al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) deadly bombing of an al Houthi convoy in al Jawf governorate in November, al Houthi officials have established 15 new checkpoints in al Jawf governorate.  The checkpoints were erected in al Motoun, al Zahir, and al Matama.[1]

• Residents of Amran governorate protested the detention of 26 people arrested five days ago during al Ghadeer celebrations in Amran.  According to tribal sources, citizens were arrested by local security forces during the celebrations without charges, and some have faced torture and mistreatment during their time in the detention facility.[2]

• An improved airport security system based on the American model will soon be implemented in Yemeni airports.  Vicki Reeder of the U.S. Transport Security Administration (TSA) said that U.S. representatives “have been working extensively with Yemen” and that within 18 months the new program will be in place in Yemen.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Fighting in Mogadishu between al Shabaab militants and the TFG and AMISOM forces left at least five people dead and 17 more wounded.[4]

• Both sides are claiming victory in the most recent clashes between al Shabaab and AMISOM in Mogadishu.  Spokesman of al Shabaab Sheikh Abdi Aziz Abu Mus’ab said, “We have killed more troops in Bondhere district and burned a vehicle in the frontlines of the war.”  Major Barigye Ba-Huko of the AMISOM troops also claimed that AMISOM has been more successful in the recent clashes.  Ba-Huko said, “I can tell you that AMISOM troops reached progress and would continue taking over several bases under the control of Al-shabab in the capital as we did in many areas in Hodan and other war zones in Mogadishu earlier.”[5]

• AMISOM released a statement saying that its troops have secured the area Northeast of Villa Somalia and parts of Bondhere and Shibis districts.  AMISOM also reports that the buildings surrounding the Ministry of the Interior are under its control.[6]

• Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, appealed to the international community to come to the aid of Somali civilians during a speech in Nairobi.  Noting that 27% of the Somali population is in need of humanitarian assistance, Guterres said, “In Somalia, we face a chronic catastrophic humanitarian situation complicated by a protracted acute emergency.”[7]