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: Saudi Arabia expresses willingness to sign nationwide ceasefire in Yemen; Saudi-coalition claims to conduct airstrikes on al Houthi militants in al Jawf governorate
Horn of Africa: Unidentified militants kill several people in northern DRC; al Shabaab claims suicide attack in Mogadishu; SNA forces reportedly capture al Shabaab officials in Hiraan region
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi government reportedly expressed its willingness to sign a UN-proposed nationwide ceasefire. The kingdom is reportedly willing to ease the air and sea blockade it implemented in Yemen in exchange for the al Houthi movement’s acceptance of a buffer zone along Yemen’s northern border with Saudi Arabia.[1]
The Saudi-led coalition claimed conducting several airstrikes on al Houthi militants in the Amhour area of Bart al Anan district in northern Yemen’s al Jawf governorate on November 18. The Saudi-led coalition previously claimed conducting airstrikes on al Houthi militants in al Dhahra front in al Jawf governorate on November 16.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
A Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) official claimed on November 17 that militants killed at least twenty-nine civilians in Virunga National Park in eastern DRC’s North Kivu province. The victims were possibly escapees from the Islamic State Central Africa Province’s (ISCA) claimed prison raid in mid-October, according to local sources.[3]
Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that targeted a police academy in Hamar Jajab district in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on November 17. The attack killed six people and injured at least ten others. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that targeted a military base in Mogadishu in early August.[4]
Somali National Army (SNA) forces reportedly captured three senior al Shabaab officials and destroyed a militant training base in central Somalia’s Hiraan region. SNA and African Union Mission in Somalia forces claimed to kill an al Shabaab official in Jalalaqsi town in Hiraan region in January 2019.[5]
[1] “Saudi Arabia stipulates a buffer zone with Yemen to stop the war,” 7adramout, November 18, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/yafa-news/7528197/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B7-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8.html ; and Aziz el Yaakoubi, “Saudis seek buffer zone with Yemen in return for ceasefire – sources,” Reuters, November 17, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27X20B.
[2] “The coalition aviation targets reinforcements for Houthi militias in Al-Jawf,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, November 18, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/185560; and Luc Sasseville and Hannah Kuperman, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 16, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at American Enterprise Institute, November 16, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-16-2020.
[3] “Dozens Killed in Eastern DRC in Latest Attacks Blamed on ADF,” Al Jazeera, November 17, 2020, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/17/dozens-killed-in-eastern-dr-congo-adf-militia-blamed; and Hannah Kuperman and Luc Sasseville, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 2, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, November 2, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-2-2020; and Hannah Kuperman and Sarah Gordon, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 21, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 21, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-21-2020.
[4] “Shabaab Claims Suicide Bombing at Somali Police HQ in Mogadishu, Reports 26 Casualties,” SITE Intelligence Group, November 17, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; “At least Six Dead After Suicide Bomber Attacks Restaurant in Somali Capital,” Hiiraan, November 17, 2020, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/Nov/180745/at_least_six_dead_after_suicide_bomber_attacks_restaurant_in_somali_capital.aspx; and Jessica Kocan and Rahma Bayrakdar, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 2, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 2, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-2-2020.
[5] “Somali Army Captures Three Al Shabaab Leaders in Hiiraan Region,” Hiiraan, November 17, 2020, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/Nov/180743/somali_army_captures_three_al_shabaab_leaders_in_hiiraan_region.aspx; “Somali, AU Troops Carry Out a Joint Operation in Central Somalia,” Radio Shabelle, January 28, 2019, http://radioshabelle.com/somali-au-troops-carry-out-a-joint-operation-in-central-somalia/.
