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: Suspected Houthi gunmen assassinate Security Belt forces commander in southern Yemen; Saudi-led coalition announces Ramadan ceasefire; Houthis reinforce positions in central Yemen for possible new offensive
Somalia: Al Shabaab IED targets local official in southern Somalia; al Shabaab raids a South West State security forces base in southern Somalia; al Shabaab raids a village in central Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Suspected Houthi gunmen assassinated a commander in the pro-Southern Transitional Council Security Belt Forces in Sheikh Uthman district, Aden governorate, southern Yemen, on March 29.[i]
The Saudi-led coalition announced it would halt all military operations in Yemen for the month of Ramadan on March 29.[ii] The coalition said the ceasefire is intended to support ongoing intra-Yemeni peace talks taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ceasefire began at 0600 local time on March 30. The coalition said the ceasefire will last until Ramadan ends on May 1.[iii]
The Houthis have reportedly begun to move personnel and materiel into Ma’rib governorate ahead of a possible new offensive in late March. Houthi fighters redeployed from al Jawf governorate, northern Yemen, to al Alam district in neighboring Ma’rib governorate, central Yemen, on March 29.[iv] A military official said the Houthis have also begun to deploy “heavy equipment” to Ma’rib governorate on March 29.[v]
Somalia Security Brief:
Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting the Wanlaweyn district deputy commissioner in Wanlaweyn, Lower Shabelle region, on March 29.[vi] Al Shabaab failed to assassinate the official. The IED killed one other person.
Al Shabaab raided a South West State security forces base in Hudur, Bakool region, Sothern Somalia, on March 30.[vii] Al Shabaab attacked the Ethiopian African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base in Hudur on March 28.[viii]
Al Shabaab raided Wisil village, Hobyo district, Mudug region, southern Somalia, on March 30.[ix] Al Shabaab burned several houses in the village.
[i] Al Jazeera, “The killing of a security commander in the UAE0backed Transitional Council in Aden governorate,” March 29, 2022, https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2022/3/29/%d9%85%d9%82%d8%aa%d9%84-%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%af-%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%86%d9%8a-%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%b9-%d9%84%d9%84%d9%85%d8%ac%d9%84%d8%b3-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%8a.
[ii] Al Bawabh, “The decision of the Arab coalition to stop its military operations inside Yemen enters into force,” March 30, 2022, https://www.albawabhnews.com/4552917.
[iii] France24, “Yemen: The Saudi-led coalition announces a ceasfire starting from Wednesday and throughout Ramadan,” March 30, 2022, https://www.france24.com/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7/20220330-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A1%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86.
[iv] Hadramawt, “Urgent: Al-Houthi group is sending reinforcements from Al-Jawf to this front,” March 29, 2022, http://www.7adramout.net/yemen-news/7843703/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%87%D8%B0%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9.html.
[v] @Alsakaniali, Twitter, March 29, 2022, https://twitter.com/alsakaniali/status/1509003393011965961?s=21&t=vlfB6-9pau3Aeg0u67lqKA.
[vi] Goobjoog News, “Wanlaweyn district commissioner injured in blast, son killed,” March 30, 2022, https://goobjoog.com/english/wanlaweyn-district-commissioner-injured-in-blast-son-killed/.
[vii] Radio Risaala, “Fighting erupts in Bakool region,” March 30, 2022, https://radiorisaala.com/dagaal-ka-dhacay-gobolka-bakool-faah-faahin-laga-helayo-5/.
[viii] Somalimemo, “Jihadist forces attack foreign military bases in southern Somalia,” March 28, 2022, https://somalimemo.info/articles/16159/Xoogag-Jihaadi-ah-oo-weeraray-saldhigyo-ay-ciidamada-shisheeye-ku-leeyihiin-Koonfurta-Soomaaliya.
[ix] Radio Risaala, “Al Shabaab burns houses in Mudug region,” March 30, 2022, https://radiorisaala.com/sawiro-al-shabaab-oo-gubay-guryo-kuyaalla-gobolka-mudug/.
