Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Damaj ceasefire breaks down; AQAP attacks soldiers in Abyan; clashes at military camp in Hadramawt; security official survives assassination attempt in al Dhaleh; AQAP publishes first episode of video lecture series

Horn of Africa: Galmudug interior minister blames Puntland for civilian deaths; Kenyan police arrest Somali refugees

Yemen Security Brief

• Fighting renewed between al Houthis and Salafists in Damaj, Sa’ada governorate on November 4 shortly after both parties signed a ceasefire brokered by UN Special Adviser on Yemen Jamal Benomar. Al Houthi spokesman Ali al Bukhaiti and Salafist spokesman Serour al Wadei both accused the other side of violating the ceasefire.[1]

• Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) attacked a 111th Brigade checkpoint in al Mahfad, Abyan governorate on November 3. The attack killed four soldiers and wounded two. Dozens of AQAP militants also attacked the 111th Brigade headquarters on November 4. The attack involved rocket-propelled grenades, but no casualties were reported.[2]

• One soldier died and fifteen others were wounded in clashes at a camp in Sayun, Hadramawt on November 5. One soldier threw a hand grenade at another group of soldiers, which was followed by heavy gunfire. Sources said the attack was due to tensions between northern and southern soldiers.[3]

• Abdul Khaliq Shaya, director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in al Dhaleh city, was wounded in an assassination attempt on November 5. His guard returned fire and injured the gunman.[4]

• AQAP religious official Harith bin Ghazi al Nadhari, also known as Muhammad al Murshidi, lectured in the the first episode of a video series on the Qu’ran. AQAP’s media arm, al Malahem Media Foundation, posted the video online on November 1.[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Galmudug administration interior minister of Galmudug Ahmad Mohamed Baasto accused Puntland forces of massacring a dozen civilians in Gadon village last week. He said Galmudug will continue security negotiations with Puntland, but demanded a government apology.[6]

• Kenyan Police arrested 21 Somali refugees in Garissa, Kenya on November 4. Police said the refugees were heading to an al Shabaab training camp in Somalia.[7]