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.

June 14, 2011

Yemen: Vice President Hadi meets with JMP; CIA plans to carry out drone strikes on AQAP in Yemen; U.S. Ambassador meets with Vice President Hadi, stresses maintaining ceasefire; Vice President Hadi orders formation of committee to aid displaced citizens

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab detains 10 people in Elbur district for crimes against Islam; TFG outlaws rallies in Mogadishu; truck accident leaves 10 people dead in Nur Dugle village

Yemen Security Brief

  • Vice President Abdul Rab Mansour al Hadi met with the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) in his home on Tuesday to discuss the transition of power. The meeting did not lead to any conclusions about the exchange of authority in the government and the state of President’s Saleh’s health remains in question.[1]

  • The CIA plans carry out drone strikes against al Qaeda in Yemen to gain intelligence and eventually to target al Qaeda operatives. Because the CIA functions with different legal restrictions than the U.S. military, it can carry out operations without the approval of President Saleh. The new program for Yemen was given presidential approval in 2010 and operations will reportedly begin in July of 2011.[2]

  • U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein met with Yemen’s Vice President Abdul Rab Mansour al Hadi to discuss the current situation in Yemen. Ambassador Feierstein noted the importance of keeping the roads open, the protection of power stations and public properties, and maintaining the ceasefire.[3]

  • Vice President Abdul Rab Mansour al Hadi has ordered the formation of a committee to aid thousands of displaced citizens in Aden and Lahij provinces that fled Abyan province due to the ongoing violence between Yemeni armed forces and al Qaeda operatives in the region.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

  • Al Shabaab detained at least ten people in Elbur district in Galgudud region. Al Shabaab’s governor in the region, Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Isse explained that those arrested were accused of crimes against Islam and are awaiting trial and suitable punishment.[5]

  •  The Banadir Administration warned against rallies in the city of Mogadishu. Secretary Abdikafi Hilowle Osman explained that rallying would be outlawed in the area in an effort to stop al Shabaab terrorist attacks.[6]

  • A truck accident left ten people dead and several wounded in Nur Dugle village. The road the vehicle was traveling on was in poor condition causing the truck to tip over.[7]

 

[1] Laura Kasinof, “Yemen’s Opposition Meets with Government Officials,” New York Times, June 14, 2011. Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/world/middleeast/14yemen.html?_r=1&sq=yemen&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=2&adxnnlx=1308056414-XA6BPV/4aueDHzcslUL4ng
[2] Siobhan Gorman and Adam Entous, “CIA Plans Yemen Drone Strikes,” Wall Street Journal, June 14, 2011. Available: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303848104576384051572679110.html
[3] “VP Meets US Envoy for Talks,” Saba News, June 13, 2011. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news242326.htm
[4] “VP Orders Formation of Committee to Help Displaced Persons,” Saba News, June 12, 2011. Available: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news242325.htm
[5] “Al Shabaab Takes 10 People into Custody in central region,” Shabelle Media Network, June 14, 2011. Available: http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=7579
[6] “Government Warns Holding Rallies in the Capital,” All Africa, June 14, 2011. Available: http://allafrica.com/stories/201106140323.html
[7] “Ten Die in Truck Accident in Southern Somalia,” Shabelle Media Network, June 14, 2011. Available: http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=7577
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