Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: UN-sponsored political talks between the al Houthi movement and the government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi commence in Geneva; al Houthis seize capital of al Jawf

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants and KDF soldiers clash in Lamu County; al Shabaab attacks KDF convoy in North Eastern Province, Kenya

Yemen Security Brief

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened political talks between the al Houthis movement and Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government in Geneva on June 15.  A delegation of al Houthi representatives, however, has encountered logistical problems in reaching Geneva and has not yet arrived at the talks. Mr. Ban urged both sides to make an effort to reach a ceasefire agreement. Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government has stated any ceasefire agreement will require the al Houthis withdraw from Aden and Taiz and release 6,000 prisoners.[1]  

• Al Houthi militants seized control of al Hazm, capital of the northern al Jawf governorate, along the Saudi-Yemeni border, on June 14.[2]    

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• A firefight between al Shabaab militants and Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF)  in Baure, Lamu County in Kenya’s Coast Province on June 14 left 11 militants and two soldiers dead. Kenya officials believe Thomas Evans, a British citizen who joined al Shabaab in 2012, and Luqman Osman Issa, a regional al Shabaab commander, are among the dead. KDF soldiers tracked militants who fled the fight into the Boni Forest, killing four escapees. Several militants also briefly captured the nearby town of Mangai, where they preached to residents in a mosque for three hours.[3]

• Al Shabaab militants reportedly attacked a KDF convoy in Garissa County, North Eastern Province, Kenya, on June 13, resulting in an unknown number of deaths. Kenyan officials believe these militants also unsuccessfully attempted to locate non-resident construction workers in Bula Golol prior to the June 14 firefight between al Shabaab militants and KDF soldiers.[4]