Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Security company offers escorts for ships travelling in the Gulf of Aden

Horn of Africa: Three dead and seven injured in Mogadishu clashes; UPDF commander in Mogadishu to examine peacekeeping forces; Puntland President says awareness, cooperation, and sacrifice important for peace and stability; PM Mohamed says he will make security his number one priority; AU convoy ambushed during yesterday’s Mogadishu clashes; Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a shuts down two radio stations in Galgudud; TFG members call on clans in Tugdher region to halt fighting

Yemen Security Brief

• Taking advantage of the unstable security situation that has resulted from piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Yemen has been contracting out Yemeni warships and active duty coastguard and navy sailors to act as security escorts for merchant and oil ships in the region.  At a cost of $55,000 per ship per trip, Gulf of Aden Group Transits, a London based company, offers one navy ship, six naval or coastguard personnel, and the assurance that “any action taken by the teams or vessels provided… is fully authorized by the Yemeni government.”[1]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Overnight fighting between al Shabaab militants and the TFG forces in Shibis and Bondhere districts in Mogadishu left at least three people dead and seven more injured.[2]

• Lt. General Katumba Wamalal, commander of the UPDF, is in Mogadishu to examine the peacekeeping forces working under AMISOM’s mandate.  Katumba’s visit reinforces Uganda’s support for the fight being waged by the Somali government against the insurgents in its country.[3]

• In a speech made in front of a large crowd on Tuesday, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole said that public awareness, cooperation, and sacrifice were the most important aspects in ensuring peace and stability in Puntland.  Farole said that clans and jobless men were two large contributors to instability in Puntland and that the government must maintain a strong presence at schools to ensure that children are not being indoctrinated with extremist beliefs by their teachers. President Farole of Puntland also criticized the TFG, specifically its decision to meet with the SSC (Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn) militia, which has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Somaliland.  Farole argued that disputes should be settled using peaceful means, and said that Somalia does not need to support the establishment of another opposition group in the SSC.[4]

• While touring and inspecting AU barracks in Mogadishu, Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said he would make security his top priority.  Mohamed said, “Security for our country and people will be the top priority and I took the oath of office to provide you with everything that will facilitate your work in making this country peaceful.”[5]

• An African Union convoy was ambushed yesterday during the fighting in Mogadishu that left 21 civilians dead.  The vehicle was damaged and two AU troops were injured in the attack.[6]

• Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a militants in Abudwaq district in Galgudud region recently shut down the Abudwaq and Bedbaado private radio stations.  Ahlu Sunna has said why the stations were shut down.[7]

• Following the deaths of at least seven people in clan fighting in Buhoodle town in Togdher region in the last week, TFG members have called on the clans to halt their clashes.[8]