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: Demonstrators protest power outages in Aden city, southern Yemen; MSF announces closure of cholera treatment centers throughout Yemen; Emirati-backed forces raid AQAP training camp in Abyan governorate, southern Yemen; Saudi-led coalition airstrikes target al Houthi-Saleh forces in al Jawf governorate, northern Yemen; U.S. Ambassador to Yemen discusses Taiz governorate with Hadi government official
Horn of Africa: Kenyan opposition leader forms rival legislative body to challenge re-run election results; Kenyan deputy president claims opposition formed armed resistance group
Yemen Security Brief
Demonstrators protested power outages, burning tires and blocking roads in al Mansura, Dar Sad, and al Buraiqeh districts, city, southern Yemen on October 30. Hospitals announced the collapse of medical services and implored the internationally recognized Hadi government to take urgent action. Aden power stations reportedly shut down due to lack of diesel on October 27, which severely reduced the city’s electricity on October 28-29. The multinational Hayel Saeed Anam Group, owned by the Yemeni Saeed Anam family, donated one thousand tons of diesel to Aden power stations on October 31.[1]
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) closed most of its cholera treatment centers on October 30, following a significant decrease in new cases since the beginning of the outbreak. UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock confirmed that international aid agencies have largely contained the epidemic, but warned the lack of investment in health care may cause the cholera epidemic to flare up again. Hadi government Minister of Public Health and Population Nasser Baoum urged MSF to focus its efforts on rural and remote areas. MSF recorded 884,368 suspected cholera cases and over 2,000 deaths in the last six months.[2]
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants attacked Emirati-backed al Hizam security forces in Abyan governorate in response to counterterrorism raids in the area. Al Hizam forces raided an AQAP training camp, seizing weapons and arresting AQAP militants in al Mahfad district, northeastern Abyan on October 31. AQAP militants detonated an IED following the raid near the -al Mahfad district border on October 31. AQAP militants also detonated four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting al Hizam forces in Akad and al Ayn areas, district, northern Abyan on October 30.[3]
AQAP militants attacked an al Houthi-Saleh military camp with an IED and small arms in al Maryis city, governorate, central Yemen on October 31. AQAP-affiliated social media accounts claimed the attack killed nine al Houthi troops.[4]
Saudi-led coalition airstrikes reportedly killed 40 al Houthi-Saleh troops in a training camp in governorate, central Yemen on October 31. Saudi-led coalition airstrikes also killed senior al Houthi-Saleh Brigadier General Mohammed al Sufi in al Maslub district, al Jawf governorate, northern Yemen on October 30. Hadi government-aligned ground forces attacked al Houthi-Saleh forces in Maslub district in conjunction with the airstrikes.[5]
U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Matthew Tueller discussed the situation in governorate, central Yemen with Yemeni Minister of Civil Services and Pensions Abdulaziz al Jabari on October 30. Stability in Taiz city is severely impeded by disjointed militias that have varying degrees of loyalty to the Hadi government, AQAP, and local power brokers.[6]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Kenyan Opposition leader Raila Odinga refused to recognize the results of the re-run election and formed a new legislative body called the People’s Assembly on October 31. Odinga stated the opposition party will appeal to county assemblies to adopt the new legislative body until a credible election occurs. Odinga also called on supporters to protest the election results and boycott businesses tied to the majority party and electoral commission.[7]
Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto claimed opposition leader Raila Odinga formed an armed group to prevent voting throughout Kenya on October 30. Odinga called on supporters to boycott the vote and persuade others to boycott. Thirty-four percent of registered voters participated in the October 26 re-run election, compared to over eighty percent in the August 8 election.[8]
[1] “Massive protests in Aden due to electricity discontinuation,” Aden Tomorrow, October 30, 3017, http://adengad.net/news/285031/; “Aden medical hospital announces the collapse of medical services due to power cuts,” Aden Lang, October 30, 3017, http://adnlng.com/news/81194/; “After the government failed to provide it, Silos company donates 1,000 tons of diesel to Aden electricity,” Aden Lang, October 31, 2017, http://adnlng.com/news/81202/; “Aden refineries pumped the last amount of fuel it owns to power plants, which have been shut down since Friday,” Al Masdar, October 30, 2017, http://almasdaronline.com/article/95127; “Aden refineries pump 2,500 tons of diesel for power stations,” Saba New, October 30, 2017, http://sabanew.net/viewstory.php?id=24397; and “Hayal Saeed Anam Company helps Aden power plants,” Aden Tomorrow, October 30, 2017, http://adengad.net/news/285032/.
[2] “Yemen: MSF reduces its cholera response as admissions drop,” Medecins Sans Frontieres, October 30, 2017, http://www.msf.org/en/article/yemen-msf-reduces-its-cholera-response-admissions-drop; “MSF says closing most cholera centers in Yemen as epidemic wanes,” Reuters, October 30, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-cholera/msf-says-closing-most-cholera-centers-in-yemen-as-epidemic-wanes-idUSKBN1D015J; and “Baoum calls on MSF to focus on rural and remote areas,” Saba New, October 30, 2017, http://sabanew.net/viewstory.php?id=24390.
[3] “Al Hizam forces control the al Qaeda camp in Mahfad,” Aden Lang, October 31, 2017, http://adnlng.com/news/81242/; “A violent explosion on the outskirts of al Ayn in Lawder,” Aden Lang, October 30, 2017, http://adnlng.com/news/81195/; AQAP target al Hizam with IED in Mudiyah, Telegram, October 31, 2017; and AQAP target al Hizam with IEDs in Aked, Telegram, October 31, 2017.
[4] AQAP detonates IED in Ibb governorate, Telegram, October 31, 2017.
[5] “Arab coalition strikes Houthi training camp in Yemen, killing 40 militiamen,” Al Arabiya, October 31, 2017, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/10/31/Arab-coalition-strikes-kill-40-Houthi-militiamen-in-Yemen-s-Dhamar.html; “A senior officer loyal to Saleh killed in airstrike in al Jawf governorate,” Al Masdar, October 31, 2017, http://almasdaronline.com/article/95149; “Raids and fierce battles in the Yemeni governorate al Jawf,” Saudi Press Agency, October 31, 2017, http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=ar&newsid=1682870#1682870; and “Violent raids and battles in al Maslub in al Jawf,” 26 September News, October 31, 2017, http://www.26sepnews.net/2017/10/31/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A8-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A9/.
[6] “Jabari meets U.S. Ambassador to Yemen,” Saba New, October 30, 2017, http://sabanew.net/viewstory.php?id=24368.
[7] Samwel Owino, “Raila Odinga dismisses repeat poll and Uhuru Kenyatta win,” Daily Nation, October 31, 2017, http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Raila-Odinga-dismisses-Uhuru-Kenyatta-win/1056-4163788-qudw69z/index.html.
[8] Fay Ngina, “Kenyans harshly respond to DP Ruto’s allegations about Raila Odinga on International media,” The Standard, October 30, 2017, https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ureport/article/2001258804/kenyans-harshly-respond-to-dp-ruto-s-allegations-about-raila-odinga-on-international-media.
