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: UN envoy concludes meetings with Houthi leadership in Sana’a; AQAP kidnaps officer of UAE-backed security force in southern Yemen
Somalia: Al Shabaab IED targets Danab special forces convoy in south-central Somalia; Danab special forces destroy al Shabaab bases in southern Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg departed Sana'a on June 9 after meeting with Houthi leadership.[i] Grundberg traveled to Sana’a to discuss negotiations to reopen roads around Taiz governorate with Houthi leadership. The most recent round of negotiations between the Yemeni government (ROYG) and the Houthi movement collapsed on June 5.[ii] The Houthis reportedly requested on June 10 that Grundberg raise the issue of reunifying Yemen’s central bank in future rounds of negotiations with the ROYG.[iii]
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula militants kidnapped a logistics officer of the UAE-backed Security Belt Forces in Lawder district, Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, on June 8.[iv]
Somalia Security Brief:
Al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a US-trained Danab special forces convoy in Gululei, Bal’ad district, Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia, on June 9.[v] Al Shabaab claimed the IED killed fifteen soldiers. The convoy was traveling from Mogadishu to Jowhar. Burundian African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces abandoned their forward operations base in Gululei on May 14.[vi]
US-trained Danab special forces secured Yumbis and Nur Garre villages in Afgoi district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on June 8.[vii] Danab forces destroyed al Shabaab roadblocks and vehicles.
[i] Al Masdar, “The UN envoy leaves Sana’a after a three-day visit,” June 9, 2022, https://almasdaronline.com/articles/253380.
[ii] Liam Karr, Brian Carter, and Christopher Muth, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 6, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 6, 2022, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-6-2022.
[iii] Aden al Ghad, “Sources: The Houthis require the reunification of the Central Bank of Yemen and the payment of salaries,” June 10, 2022, https://adengad.net/public/posts/620374.
[iv] Security Belt Forces Media Center, “Terrorist elements kidnap the security belt supply officer in Lawder,” June 8, 2022, https://alhezam-media.com/site/2022/06/08/%d8%b9%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%ae%d8%aa%d8%b7%d9%81-%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%86-%d8%a5%d9%85%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%b2%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%a7/.
[v] Goobjoog News, “Al Shabaab claims to have killed 15 Danab forces in Middle Shabelle,” June 9, 2022, https://goobjoog.com/english/al-shabaab-claims-to-have-killed-15-danab-forces-in-middle-shabelle/; Radio al Furqaan, “Al Shabaab killes 15 Danab forces in Middle Shabelle,” June 9, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/06/al-shabaab-oo-15-ka-tirsan-ciidanka-danab-ku-dilay-sh-dhexe/.
[vi] Harun Maruf, Twitter, May 14, 2022, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1525565099586510848.
[vii] SONNA, “SNA destroys al Shabaab bases in Lower Shabelle region,” June 8, 2022, https://sonna.so/en/2022/06/09/sna-destroys-al-shabab-bases-in-lower-shabelle-region/; Radio Dalsan, “Danab forces carry out operation to destroy al Shabaab bases,” June 8, 2022, https://www.radiodalsan.com/wararka-idaacadda/ciidanka-danab-oo-fuliyay-howlgal-la-sheegay-in-lagu-burburiyey-farriisimo-ay-lahaayeen-al-shabaab/.
