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: Hadi government and STC sign power-sharing agreement; anti-al Houthi media accuses al Houthis of attacks in al Hudaydah
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab detonates IED targeting AMISOM troops in Middle Shabelle region; clashes in south-central Ethiopia kill at least 27 people
Yemen Security Brief
President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government and the Transitional Political Council for the South (STC), a southern Yemeni secessionist group, signed an initial agreement to end the fight for control of Yemen’s interim capital, , on October 24. The STC has controlled Aden since August, when security forces aligned with the group unseated the Hadi government from the city. Saudi Arabia has been brokering negotiations in Jeddah since September to resolve the standoff. The agreement creates a new government that includes 12 ministers from northern Yemen and 12 ministers from southern Yemen. The STC and the Hadi government will withdraw their forces from Aden while President Hadi and a detachment of his presidential guard will return to the city. Saudi Arabia is deploying additional forces to southern Yemen as part of the agreement.[1]
The al Houthi movement conducted multiple attacks in port city in western Yemen on October 24, according to anti-al Houthi media. Al Houthi forces shelled Saudi-led coalition-backed Yemeni forces in the Tahita area of the city. The UN established checkpoints in al Hudaydah on October 19 in an effort to uphold the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, which calls for a ceasefire in al Hudaydah.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Al Shabaab detonated a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) targeting Burundian forces serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) near town in Middle Shabelle region in central Somalia on October 25. Burundian forces mistakenly killed two farmers in the vicinity in response to the attack.[3]
At least 27 people died in protests across Ethiopia’s south-central Oromia region and the capital, , between October 23 and 25. Protests erupted on October 23 after police surrounded the home of a prominent activist and media personality from the Oromo ethnic group, Jawar Mohammed. Supporters of Mohammed began protesting against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, also a member of the Oromo community, and clashing with police in response.[4]
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[1] Nissebaum, Dion and Al Batati, Saleh, “Saudi-backed Yemeni government, separatists sign power-sharing deal,” The Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2019, https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-backed-yemeni-government-separatists-sign-power-sharing-deal-11571954579; and Al Zikry, Maad and Elhennawy, Noha, “Yemen officials: Government, separatists reach initial deal,” Associated Press, October 25, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/yemeni-officials-government-separatists-reach-initial-deal/2019/10/25/c229147a-f6fd-11e9-b2d2-1f37c9d82dbb_story.html.
[2] “Houthi militia continues shelling and escalation in southern Hudaydah,” News Yemen, October 25, 2019, https://www.newsyemen.net/news47224.html.
[3] Tuuryare, Abdirisak, “Two Civilians Shot Dead By AU Troops In Somalia,” Mareeg, October 25, 2019, https://mareeg.com/two-civilians-shot-dead-by-au-troops-in-somalia/.
[4] “At least 16 dead in anti-Abiy protests in Ethiopia: Amnesty,” France 24, October 25, 2019, https://www.france24.com/en/20191025-at-least-16-dead-in-anti-abiy-protests-in-ethiopia-amnesty; “Ethiopia protesters burn Nobel winner Abiy Ahmed's book,” BBC News, October 23, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50157385; and “Death Toll Climbs to 27 in Continued Violence in Ethiopia,” Ezega, October 25, 2019, https://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails/7358/Death-Toll-Climbs-to-27-in-Continued-Violence-in-Ethiopia.
