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: The Presidential Leadership Council reshuffled Yemen’s cabinet; Houthis aim to disarm tribes in northern Yemen; unidentified militants attacked a local official’s home in southern Yemen
Somalia: Al Shabaab conducts a massive suicide raid near the Ethiopian border in southwestern Somalia; al Shabaab suicide bomber kills a state official in southwestern Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
The Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) reshuffled the Yemeni government’s cabinet on July 28.[i] The PLC appointed Mohsen al Da’ari as Minister of Defense, Saeed Suleiman Barakat al Shamasi as Minister of Oil and Minerals, Mane’ Saleh Yaslam bin Yamin as Minister of Electricity and Energy, and Salem Muhammad al Aboudi al Huraizi as Minister of Public Works and Roads. The PLC removed Muhammad al Maqdashi as defense minister and appointed him as an advisor for defense and security affairs to President Alimi.
Tribal sources reported on July 27 that the Houthis aim to disarm tribes in areas under their control.[ii] The Houthis are reportedly doing so by purchasing weapons “at exorbitant prices” from tribes in Sana'a, Dhamar, Hajjah, Amran and al Mahwit governorates in northern Yemen.
Unidentified militants detonated an improvised explosive device targeting the home of a Dhaleh governorate official in al Awabel, Dhaleh governorate, southern Yemen, on July 28.[iii]
Somalia Security Brief:
Al Shabaab conducted a complex suicide vehicle-borne improvise explosive device (SVBIED) raid targeting Somali Region Liyu police at Aato, El Barde district, Bakool region, southwestern Somalia, on July 29. Al Shabaab mortared the police positions before using an unspecified number of SVBIEDs to breach the base perimeter. Hundreds of al Shabaab fighters then entered the base.[iv] Al Shabaab claimed to overrun the police positions and kill 103 Liyu police.[v] Al Shabaab also claimed to use anti-aircraft weapons to repel Ethiopian MiG fighter jets assisting the Liyu.[vi] Al Shabaab targeted the same police position alongside several other Ethiopian positions along the Somali-Ethiopian border on July 20.[vii]
An al Shabaab suicide bomber assassinated a South West State minister IVO Baidoa, Bay region, southwestern Somalia, on July 29.[viii] The bomber detonated a suicide vest as the minister was leaving a mosque after Friday prayers. The explosion also killed 10 other people, including bodyguards and civilians.
[i] Saba Net (ROYG), “Issuance of a republican decision to reshuffle the ministries of defense, oil, electricity, and works,” July 28, 2022, https://www.sabanew.net/story/ar/88517; Al Mashhad Al Yemeni, “A Republican decision appointing new appointments to the Yemeni government and the Presidential Leadership Council,” July 28, 2022, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/236163.
[ii] Aden al Ghad, “A Houthi plot to empty the tribes of Yemen of weapons,” July 27, 2022, https://adengad.net/public/posts/628792.
[iii] Al Masdar, “Explosion in the vicinity of the house of the Deputy Governor for Health Affairs, no injuries,” July 29, 2022, https://almasdaronline.com/articles/256683.
[iv] Horseed Media, “Somali-Ethiopian forces and Al-shabaab once again clash in Bakool region,” July 29, 2022, https://horseedmedia.net/somali-ethiopian-forces-and-al-shabaab-once-again-clash-in-bakool-region-370686.
[v] Radio al Furqaan, “BREAKING: More than 100 Liyu police killed in Aato War,” July 29, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/07/deg-deg-in-ka-badan-100-askaro-oo-liyu-bolis-looga-dilay-dagaalkii-caato/.
[vi] SITE Intelligence Group, “Shabaab Announces 103 Ethiopian Liyuu Police Killed in Suicide Raid in Same City Hit Nearly One-Week Prior,” July 29, 2022, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[vii] Christopher Muth and Liam Karr, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 22, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 22, 2022, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-22-2022.
[viii] Qiraat Somali, “Suicide bomber kills second official in southwestern Somali state,” July 29, 2022, https://www.qiraatsomali.com/%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d9%82%d8%aa%d9%84-%d8%ab%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%85%d8%b3%d8%a4%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%88%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%ac%d9%86%d9%88%d8%a8-%d8%ba/.
