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: Hadi government and STC reportedly agree to implement Riyadh Agreement’s political side; Hadi government and Houthis allegedly exchange prisoners in al Bayda governorate; Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes targeting al Houthi positions in Ma’rib and al Jawf governorates
Horn of Africa: Islamic State-aligned militants attack village in northern Mozambique; Somali Parliament ousts prime minister in no-confidence vote
Yemen Security Brief:
The internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) reportedly reached an agreement to implement the political side of the Riyadh Agreement on July 26. The November 2019 Riyadh Agreement stipulated a power-sharing agreement between Hadi’s government and the STC that included appointing a governor and director of security forces in southern Yemen’s Aden governorate. The STC and Hadi’s government resumed negotiations to implement the Riyadh Agreement in early July, according to local media.[1]
The Hadi government and the al Houthi movement reportedly exchanged prisoners in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate. The Hadi government and al Houthi militants agreed to a prisoner exchange in early April.[2]
The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes targeting al Houthi positions across several districts in northern Yemen’s Ma’rib and al Jawf governorates on July 26. Saudi-led coalition forces previously launched airstrikes on al Houthi positions in Ma’rib and al Jawf governorates on July 23 and July 15, respectively.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Islamic State-aligned militants killed two civilians in Chai village near Macomia city in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on July 25. Mozambican security forces responded to the attack after militants withdrew from the village the next day. The militants attacked and briefly occupied Macomia in late May before Mozambican security forces drove them out of the city.[4]
Somalia’s Parliament voted to oust Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire on July 25 in a no-confidence vote. Somali politicians cited Khaire’s failure to negotiate between the Somali Federal Government and federal member states over upcoming national elections. The European Union and the US Embassy in Somalia labeled the vote as unconstitutional. Somali opposition politicians accused Somali President Mohammed Farmajo of orchestrating the vote to delay federal elections and extend his term in office.[5]
[1] “Including one for reform and another for the conference .. Details of the distribution of ministerial portfolios of southern governorates in the new government,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, July 27, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/173613; “Source: A solution to the crisis and new consensus between the government and the "interim" government regarding the Riyadh agreement,” 7adramout, July 27, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almandebnews/7450725/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B4%D8%A3%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6.html; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 22, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 22, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-22-2020.
[2] “Yemeni army and Houthis conclude prisoner swap,” Middle East Monitor, July 27, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200727-yemeni-army-and-houthis-conclude-prisoner-swap/; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 7, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 7, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-7-2020.
[3] “Coalition fighters carry out 12 raids on Houthi movements and locations in Marib and Al-Jawf,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, July 27, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/173614; Matthew Eady and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 24, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 24, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-24-2020; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 15, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 15, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-15-2020.
[4] “Insurgents kill two people in Macomia,” e-Global, July 27, 2020, https://e-global.pt/noticias/lusofonia/mocambique/mocambique-insurgentes-matam-duas-pessoas-em-macomia/; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - June 3, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 3, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-3-2020.
[5] Abuga Makori, “How Khaire’s exit could shape Somalia’s geopolitical and social-economic fortunes,” Garowe, July 26, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/how-khaires-exit-could-shape-somalias-geopolitical-and-social-economic-fortunes; and “EU terms Kheyre’s ouster “serious disrespect” for Somalia’s constitution,” Somali Agenda, July 26, 2020, https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/eu-terms-kheyres-ouster-serious-disrespect-for-somalias-constitution/.
