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-led coalition claims intercepting al Houthi drone and missile attacks targeting southwestern Saudi Arabia; al Houthis reportedly seize territory from Hadi government–aligned forces in Sana’a governorate
Horn of Africa: Suspected ADF militants burn church and kill civilians in DRC; Mozambican security forces claim attacking militant base in Cabo Delgado province; al Shabaab claims seizing territory in Sanaag region; Somali security forces arrest suspected al Shabaab militants in Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi-led coalition claimed intercepting six al Houthi drones and three al Houthi ballistic missiles targeting southwestern Saudi Arabia on October 28. The Saudi-led coalition claimed intercepting al Houthi drones daily between October 23 and 28.[1]
Al Houthi militants reportedly seized territory from forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Nihm district in central Yemen’s Sana’a governorate on October 30. Al Houthi militants and Hadi government–aligned forces previously clashed in Nihm on October 26.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants killed at least eighteen civilians and burned down a church in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on October 28. Local authorities suspect ADF forces conducted a large-scale prison raid in North Kivu province in late October.[3]
Mozambique’s interior minister said on October 28 that security forces dismantled a militant base in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique. Security forces allegedly killed at least twenty-two militants. The Mozambican government announced it would strengthen counterterrorism operations in Cabo Delgado on October 26.[4]
Al Shabaab claimed on October 24 that it took control of several villages in Somalia’s northern Sanaag region. Al Shabaab claimed it seized a town in Sanaag in November 2019.[5]
Somali security forces arrested several suspected al Shabaab members and seized weapons in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on October 29. Security forces claimed the militants belonged to a cell that specializes in planning assassinations in Mogadishu. Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security agency reportedly seized tons of bomb-making material from suspected al Shabaab militants in Mogadishu in mid-October.[6]
[1] “Saudi coalition says destroyed six Houthi drones - state TV,” Reuters, October 28, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-drones/saudi-coalition-says-destroyed-six-houthi-drones-state-tv-idUSKBN27D2C6; “US warns of drone, missiles attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh,” Al Arabiya, October 29, 2020, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/10/29/US-warns-of-drone-missile-attacks-on-Saudi-Arabia-s-Riyadh; Sarah Gordon and Hannah Kuperman, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 26, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 26, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-26-2020; and Sarah Gordon and Hannah Kuperman, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 28, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 28, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-28-2020.
[2] “Amid the secrecy of the Ministry of Defense…the last front of legitimacy in Nihm and Camp Mas fell under the fire of the al Houthis,” 7adramout, October 30, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/4MAY/7517732/%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9—%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA-%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86.html; and Hannah Kuperman and Sarah Gordon, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 26, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 26, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-26-2020.
[3] “Suspected Islamists Kill 18, Torch Church in East Congo,” Reuters, October 29, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congo-security/suspected-islamists-kill-18-torch-church-in-east-congo-idUSKBN27E1WS; Hannah Kuperman and Sarah Gordon, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 23, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 23, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-23-2020; 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#_edn2b16e9bdd27ec97b13a9934503a1e9d73f7da9aba71b593ee037f23f5f1396584.
[4] “Mozambique Kills Over 100 Terrorists in Cabo Delgado,” Deutsche Welle, October 29, 2020, http://dw.com/pt-002/moçambique-abate-mais-de-cem-terroristas-em-cabo-delgado/a-55439223; “Mozambican Interior Minister Announces the Death of 22 "Terrorists," VOA, October 29, 2020, https://www.voaportugues.com/a/ministro-do-interior-de-mo%c3%a7ambique-anuncia-a-morte-de-22-terroristas-/5640250.html; and “"The President Hasn't Called Me Yet," Says Nhongo of Nyusi's Dialogue Proposal,” DW, October 26, 2020, https://www.dw.com/pt-002/o-presidente-ainda-n%C3%A3o-me-ligou-diz-nhongo-sobre-proposta-de-di%C3%A1logo-de-nyusi/a-55398567.
[5] “Al Shabab Takes Control of a Village in Sanaag,” Somali Dispatch, October 25, 2020, https://www.somalidispatch.com/latest-news/al-shabab-takes-control-of-a-village-in-sanaag/; “Shabaab Claims Seizing Control Over 4 Towns in 2nd Operation in Sanaag, Launches Campaign in Hiran at alleged Request of Townsfolk,” SITE Intelligence Group, October 29, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Kevin Phelan and Hennessey Herrera “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 18, 2019,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, November 18, 2019, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-18-2019.
[6] “Somali Security Forces Arrest Al-Shabaab Suspects, Seize Arms in Mogadishu,” Somali Affairs, October 29, 2020, https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/somali-security-forces-arrest-al-shabaab-suspects-seize-arms-in-mogadishu/; and Hannah Kuperman and Sarah Gordon, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 14, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. October 14, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-14-2020.
