Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Yemeni military responds to reports of Ansar al Sharia militants in Sayun, Hadramawt; Hadi’s government and al Houthi movement expected to attend UN-led Geneva conference without preconditions

Horn of Africa: Al Kataib releases video depicting al Shabaab attacks in Kenya; Somali troops recapture al Shabaab territory in Lower Shabelle region

Yemen Security Brief

• The first Yemeni military region reportedly increased its deployment of troops in Sayun, Hadramawt, on June 4 in response to reports that Ansar al Sharia militants had entered the city. Soldiers reportedly raided several hotels in Sayun and arrested several alleged Ansar al Sharia militants.[1]

• Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government has reportedly relaxed its preconditions for attending UN-led Yemeni peace talks with the al Houthi movement in Geneva and is expected to attend talks without the al Houthi’s prior submission to UN Resolution 2216. Reuters reported on June 4 that former Yemeni president Ali Abudllah Saleh is expected to be represented at the talks, though the Southern Movement will not be.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab’s media foundation al Kataib released a 19 minute video depicting Kenyan members of al Shabaab attacking, burning, and raiding a Kenyan police station, the Hindi Apostolic Church, and a wildlife reserve in Lamu County. The video is overlaid with sermons and shows the death of one al Shabaab member.[3]

• Somali troops supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces recaptured territory from al Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region on June 5. The operation was part of a mission to force al Shabaab out of southern Somalia and follows the June 1 recapture of Toratorow, Lower Shabelle region, by the Somalia National Army.[4]