Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Local mediation efforts between the government and al-Houthi rebels may be underway; Southern Movement supporters demonstrate in southern provinces during talks between Arab League and Yemeni government; a large explosion went off in Abyan province near military brigade; second Yemeni fighter plane down in north; Yemeni authorities confiscate ammunitions

Horn of Africa: Hizb al-Islam claims victory in southern towns outside of Kismayo; warplanes spotted flying low over Mogadishu; hijacked Spanish tuna trawler still in pirates' custody; Somali president says solution to country's problems "easy"

Yemen Security Brief

• Tribal sources report local mediation efforts between the government forces and al-Houthi rebels have produced an in-principle-agreement for a ceasefire.� Sheikh Ali al-Qarsha, a member of the mediating commission, said that both sides have expressed a desire for a ceasefire and that the rebels have agreed to the conditions set by the government.� This announcement comes after the deadliest weeks for the al-Houthi rebels, during which over 300 rebels were killed and dozens more arrested.[1]

• While Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, held talks in Sana'a, thousands of Southern Movement supporters demonstrated to demand regional independence.� Over 10,000 people marched in the city of Dhale while thousands of others congregated in city centers across Lahj and Abyan provinces.� Moussa said that he had discussed Yemen's stability and security with the president, and stressed the importance of Yemeni unity.[2]

• At 4:30 a.m., a large explosion went off near a military brigade in the southern province of Abyan.� There are no reports of casualties or damage, but details remain unclear.[3]

• A second fighter plane, this time a Russian-made Sukhoi, crashed in the Sa'ada region Monday.� A military source claims that it was brought down by a technical failure, while the al-Houthi rebels released a statement saying that it was a MiG and that they brought the plane down.[4]

• Security authorities intercepted a large amount of ammunition coming from China.� Documents forged in the name of the Yemeni Defense Ministry were used to procure the ammunition, and sources close to the government report that the government has told Chinese companies and other weapons dealing parties of the non-acceptance of any documents for licensing the import of weapons.� Arms dealers will now have to attain all relevant documents through Yemeni embassies.[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Witnesses say that al-Shabaab militants have been forced out of two towns in southern Somalia.� Meanwhile, Hizb al-Islam has claimed that it has defeated al-Shabaab following fighting to the north of Kismayo. �Hizb al-Islam militants captured two battle wagons and report that they captured five al-Shabaab fighters, one of whom was Kenyan.� Elders fear further fighting in the south after mediations between the two groups failed.[6]

• Residents of Mogadishu claim to have seen two warplanes, nationality unknown, fly over the northern districts of Heliwa and Dayniile.� Though al-Shabaab has military bases and training camps in those areas, the reason for the overhead flights is not clear.[7]

• Spain says that the ordeal of securing the release of a tuna trawler that was hijacked by Somali pirates could continue to drag on.� Two of the pirates were captured when they left the boat in a skiff headed for shore, but reports place eleven pirates and thirty-six crew members still on board the ship.� Spain is now participating in an EU anti-piracy flotilla.� A Turkish cargo ship was recently released following an undisclosed ransom payment - all twenty-three crew members were healthy.[8]

• President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said in a speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs that "Finding a solution to the problem of Somalia is easy if there is strong will power."� He called for the strengthening of state institutions and infrastructure, as well as the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.� He believes that he can succeed in rebuilding the country where others have failed because the TFG was formed through of a peace process and because he has reduced the threat of kidnappings in Mogadishu.[9]

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