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 army advances in old Sa’ada city; authorities arrest Somalis with al Houthi ties; armed separatists force shops and schools to close; U.S. Congress passes resolution calling for promotion of reforms in Yemen
Horn of Africa: Residents protest Islamist groups in Mogadishu; heavy shelling in Mogadishu kills eight; cleric assassinated in Bosasso; Djibouti Foreign Minister reportedly said there was a change in al Shabaab’s leadership
Yemen Security Brief
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Fighting in the old city of Sa’ada has entered its second day as the Yemeni army makes a push against the al Houthi rebels. Military commanders report that they will have the city under control in 24 hours.[1]
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Authorities have arrested three Somalis and two Yemenis with suspected ties to the al Houthi rebels in Sa’ada. Additionally, Yemen is investigating twenty-six Somalis who were arrested for suspected connections to the al Houthi rebels.[2]
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Armed supporters of the Southern Movement forced shops and schools to close, especially in Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan.[3]
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The U.S. Congress passed a resolution calling for the promotion of reforms necessary to advance Yemen’s economy. In addition, the resolution supports those affected by the current northern conflict.[4]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
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Clashes erupted between residents of a Mogadishu suburb and Hizb al Islam militants after Hizb al Islam stormed a school, replaced the Somali flag with an Islamist one, and arrested the school’s principal. At least two people were injured. Elsewhere in Mogadishu, civilians demonstrated against al Shabaab, who is held responsible for the Shamo Hotel bombing. Protestors burned the flag of the militant group in the first public show of anger at the group.[5]
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Heavy shelling in Mogadishu killed eight civilians and has injured at least twenty others. The shelling began in Hodan and Hawlwadag districts and was between Islamists and government troops.[6]
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Unidentified gunmen assassinated a cleric in a mosque in Bosasso. Locals report that armed men shot the imam after evening prayer.[7]
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The Djibouti Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssof, reportedly said that Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, an al Qaeda operative from Comoros, replaced Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, also known as Ahmed Abdi Godane, as the spiritual leader of al Shabaab.[8]
