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: Unidentified militants bomb security checkpoint in Aden; Hadramawt governor returns to Yemen from Riyadh; Hadi government-aligned forces repel al Houthi attack in Taiz governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks base in Puntland; Somali and Kenyan presidents pledge to resolve maritime dispute
Yemen Security Review
Unidentified militants riding a motorcycle threw a homemade bomb at a security checkpoint in Yemen’s de facto capital, , on November 14, injuring two members of a local security force.[1]
The Governor of Hadramawt, Faraj al Bahsani, returned to the eastern Yemeni governorate on November 14 after two months in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bahsani praised a recent power-sharing agreement between President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government and southern separatists upon his return.[2]
Hadi government-aligned forces repelled an al Houthi attack in Taiz governorate in southwestern Yemen on November 14. The al Houthis attacked Hadi government-aligned forces near Jabal Han and Wadi Hudhran in western Taiz.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Al Shabaab militants attacked a military base manned by Puntland Security Forces in Af Urur town in Puntland State in northern Somalia on November 15. The attack killed at least two soldiers and injured three others.[4]
Somali Federal Government president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo met with Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta in Kenya’s capital, , on November 14 to discuss normalizing bilateral relations. Somalia and Kenya are in the midst of a diplomatic row over a disputed maritime boundary. The International Court of Justice is currently processing a case related to the dispute.[5]
[1] “2 injured in blast at checkpoint in Yemen's Aden,” Xinhua Net, November 15, 2019, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/15/c_138555937.htm.
[2] “Yemeni governor arrives in Hadramout from Riyadh,” 7adramout, November 15, 2019, https://www.7adramout.net/aden-time/7222217/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86---%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6.html.
[3] “Government forces repel an al Houthi attack west of Taiz,” 7adramout, November 15, 2019, https://www.7adramout.net/alyamanalarab/7222048/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86---%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2.html.
[4] Tuuryare, Abdirisak, “Al Shabaab attacks military base in Puntland,” Mareeg, November 15, 2019, https://mareeg.com/al-shabaab-attacks-military-base-in-puntland/.
[5] “Somalia, Kenya agree to resolve sea row in mutually acceptable manner,” Garowe, November 15, 2019, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-kenya-agree-to-resolve-the-sea-issue-in-a-mutually-acceptable-manner.
