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: AQAP releases speech urging Sudanese Muslims to revolt against their government; anti–al Houthi forces attack al Houthis in Dhaleh governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab reportedly destroys communication mast in Mandera County; al Shabaab claims attack on US-Somali forces in Lower Shabelle region; al Shabaab fails assassination attempt in Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief:
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a speech from senior official, Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, on November 5. Qosi called for Sudanese Muslims to revolt against their government. He urged Sudanese youth to attack American and Jewish interests in Sudan and across East Africa. Qosi gave a speech on the normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel in late August.[1]
Anti–al Houthi forces claimed attacking al Houthi militants in central Yemen’s Dhaleh governorate on November 6. Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government claimed to kill several al Houthi militants in Dhaleh governorate between November 3 and 4.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab militants allegedly destroyed a communication mast in Karo town in Kenya’s northeastern Mandera County on November 5. Al Shabaab militants claimed detonating an improvised explosive device in Mandera County’s Lafey district on November 4.[3]
Al Shabaab militants claimed detonating a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) targeting US and Somali forces in Gendershe town in Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia on November 6. Militants claimed the explosion killed one US soldier and wounded another. Al Shabaab militants clashed with Somali National Army soldiers in Lower Shabelle region in mid-October.[4]
Al Shabaab militants allegedly detonated a roadside IED in a failed assassination attempt of a Somali government official in Hodan district in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on November 6. Al Shabaab militants reportedly shot and killed at least two undercover Somali intelligence agents in Mogadishu in early November.[5]
[1] “Sudanese AQAP Official Addresses His Homeland's Normalization with Israel, Urges Youths Rise Up,” SITE Intelligence Group, November 6, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Rahma Bayrakdar and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 2, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at American Enterprise Institute, September 2, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-2-2020;
[2] “Repel Houthi aggression targeting Al-Jubb camp, north of Al-Dhalea,” 7adramout, November 6, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7521364/%D8%B5%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A8-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9.html; and Hannah Kuperman and Luc Sasseville, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 4, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at American Enterprise Institute, November 4, 2020 https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-4-2020.
[3] “Shabaab Claims Assassination of Sinka Dheer District Deputy SNA Commander, 10 Casualties Among Kenyan Troops in Mandera County,” SITE Intelligence Group, November 5, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; “Explosion Kills 10 Kenyan Soldiers in NFD,” Somalimemo, November 5, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/13894/Qarax-10-askari-Kenyaan-ah-ay-dhimasho-iyo-dhaawac-ku-noqdeen-oo-ka-dhacay-NFD; “Shabaab Militants Destroy Communications Mast in Mandera,” Nation, November 5, 2020, https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/mandera/shabaab-militants-destroy-mast-mandera-2731658; and “Shabab destroys telecommunication mast after attack in Kenyan border region,” Xinhua Net, November 5, 2020, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/05/c_139494037.htm.
[4] “Shabaab Claims Foiling Joint U.S.-Somali Operation in Gendershe, Inflicting 9 Casualties,” SITE Intelligence Group, November 6, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Hannah Kuperman and Sarah Gordon, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 16, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 16, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-16-2020.
[5] “Labour Minister Escapes Roadside Bomb,” Radio Dalsan, November 6, 2020, https://www.radiodalsan.com/en/2020/11/06/labour-minister-escapes-roadside-bomb/; 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.
