Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Yemeni National Dialogue Conference concludes in Riyadh; al Houthis clash with popular resistance in Ma’rib

Horn of Africa: South West Regional President survives IED attack in Mogadishu; Kenyan security forces put on high alert

Yemen Security Brief

• The Yemeni National Dialogue Conference called for by Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, concluded on May 19. The conference released a final statement, recognizing the legitimacy of Hadi’s presidency and pledging support to the UN and the Saudi-led coalition forces intervening in Yemen and for popular resistance fighters battling the al Houthi movement throughout the country. The statement also stated the intention to provide logistical support and weaponry to popular resistance fighters in Yemen.[1]

• Popular resistance fighters continued clashes with al Houthi militants in Sirwah, Ma’rib, on May 19. A reported 13 al Houthi militants were killed in the fighting. The al Houthi-push into Ma’rib has remained largely ineffective.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• South West Regional Administration President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden survived an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on his convoy in the outskirts of Mogadishu on May 18. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but al Shabaab has conducted similar attacks targeting government officials in the past.[3]

• Kenyan security forces were put on high alert on May 19. This move came after Ethiopian soldiers and police officers crossed the border into Kenya and reportedly briefly seized a police station. Kenyan officials held that the Ethiopian intentions were unclear.[4]