Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Somalis with ties to al Houthi rebels arrested in Sa'ada; Yemeni security forces remove blockade of Sana'a-Mar'ib road; Popular Movement for Justice and Change in Taiz denounces repression of peaceful protests; al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called most dangerous terrorist group; Yemeni tribesmen free Japanese engineer

Horn of Africa: Clashes in Mogadishu kill over ten people; Hizb al Islam in Tayeglow in Bakool region declares partnership with al Shabaab; Ahlu Sunna Waljamaía says Hizb al Islam and al Shabaab militants are responsible for explosions; top Ethiopian military officer reportedly met with Somali government officials; African Development Bank signed $2 million grant for Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

• Around thirty Somalis were arrested in the Bok'a district of Sa'ada province for suspected ties to the al Houthi rebels. Over the past few weeks, twenty-six Somalis have been arrested on similar charges.[1] 

• Yemeni security forces have removed the blockade of the Sana'a-Mar'ib road instituted by the Jahm tribe. The Interior Ministry dispatched thirty-three security patrols to deal with the tribesmen. Six soldiers were wounded in related fighting.[2] 

• The Popular Movement for Justice and Change in Taiz province denounced Yemen's repression of peaceful protests by health syndicates. Sultan al Samie, the spokesman for the movement, accused authorities of ignoring the Dengue Fever epidemic in the region.[3] 

• A U.N. counter-terrorism official called al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) the most dangerous group because of "its ability to hide in unstable Yemen and the boldness of its ambition." Though the Maghrebi wing and al Shabaab are more active, the location of AQAP makes it more of a threat.[4] 

• Yemeni tribesmen have freed the Japanese engineer whom they had held hostage in order to exact demands from the government. Sana'a Governor, Norman Duwaid, said that the tribesmen had tried to exploit the hostage situation by reporting that the engineer had been taken by al Qaeda to Jawf province.[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief 

• At least ten people have been killed and many more wounded after heavy fighting broke out in Mogadishu Monday night. Reportedly, clashes continue in Abdul Azis and Shibis districts in the north of the capital and parts of Hodan and Daynile districts. Hizb al Islam spokesman, Sheikh Mohamed Osman Arus, said that Hizb al Islam forces had attacked government troops, which was confirmed by Aden Mohamed Kalmoy, spokesman for the government's military forces. The fighting in Hodan and Daynile began when Islamists attacked the Kulliyadda Jalle Si'ad building, where Burundian forces are based. Sunday night, eleven were killed and eighteen injured in clashes between government forces and Hizb al Islam militants in Hodan, Hawl Wadag and along Makka al Mukarama road. Arus reported that Hizb al Islam had forced AU troops out of the Digfer Hospital.[6] 

• Hizb al Islam in Tayeglow district in the Bakool region announced that it would join al Shabaab. Both sides acknowledge prior differences, but seek to work together.[7] 

• Blasts targeting key clerics who met in the capital of Galmudug were committed by militants from Hizb al Islam and al Shabaab, according to Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a's Deputy Chairman, Sheikh Omar Osman Afrah. Afrah adds that these militants were also responsible for the recent explosions in Galkayo.[8] 

• Reports say that a top ranking officer from the Ethiopian military met with Somali government officials in Yeed district of the Bakool region. The security situation and how to provide military support to the Somali government forces topped the meeting's agenda.[9] 

• The African Development Bank has signed a $2 million grant for Somalia, the first grant from the Bank since the collapse of the central government eighteen years ago. The grant is to help Somalia establish a public finance system and develop a legal framework for fiscal and monetary institutions.[10]