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: An AQAP fighter makes pitch to jihadist scientists to focus on combating drone threat; UN Special Envoy to Yemen meets with regional and UN Ambassadors in Riyadh to discuss peace talks amidst recent Houthi escalation; US Ambassador to Yemen discusses peace talks with STC President
Somalia: Senior al Shabaab commander defects to the SNA in southern Somalia
Yemen Security Brief
An Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighter called on jihadist engineers and scientists via pro-Al Qaeda (AQ) chat groups on March 30 to focus on combatting the threat of United States and Saudi coalition drone strikes.[i]
UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg met with the Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general, Saudi ambassador to Yemen, and ambassadors from UN Security Council Permanent 5 (P5) member countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 30.[ii] The meeting discussed the effects of Houthi military escalation on the peace process.[iii]
US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin discussed the peace process and Houthi military escalation with Southern Transitional Council (STC) President Ayadrus al Zubaidi in a March 29 video teleconference.[iv]
Somalia Security Brief
A senior regional al Shabaab commander defected to the Somali National Army in Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on March 29.[v]
[i] SITE Intelligence Group, “Alleged AQAP Fighter Urges Jihadists Focus on Neutralizing Drones, Calls Military and Science Professionals to Battlefield,” March 31, 2023, https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Chatter/alleged-aqap-fighter-urges-jihadists-focus-on-neutralizing-drones-calls-military-and-science-professionals-to-battlefield.html
[ii] Aden Time, “Grundberg Arrives in the Saudi Capital, Riyadh,” March 31, 2023, https://www.aden-tm.net/news/237376
[iii] News Yemen, “Grundberg is looking in Riyadh to reduce the escalation in Yemen,” March 30, 2023, https://www.newsyemen.life/new/91875
[iv] Dera al Ganoob, “President Al-Zubaidi discusses with the US ambassador developments in the political process and efforts to establish peace,” March 29, 2023, https://deraalganoob.com/archives/22020#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25b1%25d8%25a6%25d9%258a%25d8%25b3-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25b2%25d9%258f%25d8%25a8%25d9%258a%25d8%25af%25d9%258a-%25d9%258a%25d9%2586%25d8%25a7%25d9%2582%25d8%25b4-%25d9%2585%25d8%25b9-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25b3%25d9%2581%25d9%258a%25d8%25b1-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25a3%25d9%2585%25d8%25b1-4
[v] Garowe Online “Al-Shabaab commander surrenders in Somalia’s army,” March 30, 2023, https://t.co/EizhzcgwXZ
