Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Al Houthi political leader dismisses Saleh loyalists from political positions; reported U.S. airstrikes kill AQAP militants in al Bayda governorate, central Yemen; Shabwah police arrests three AQAP militants in Ataq city, Shabwah governorate; AQAP militants attack al Houthi-Saleh forces in Rada’a district, al Bayda governorate, central Yemen; Emirati troops die in Yemen

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants capture SNA base in Gedo Region, southern Somalia; NASA MPs boycott first session of Kenya’s Parliament; al Shabaab militants target Hiran region government employees; al Shabaab militants shell Mogadishu Stadium

Yemen Security Brief 

Al Houthi-Saleh Supreme Political Council president Saleh al Samad, a member of Ansar Allah, dismissed a number of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh loyalists from leadership positions in government institutions and appointed al Houthi movement loyalists on September 9. Saleh’s General People’s Congress (GPC) party criticized the announcement as a unilateral decision aimed to disrupt their partnership. Current tensions stem from al Houthi supporters clashing with Saleh loyalists on August 24 and the lack of rapprochement between each faction’s leadership.^[1]

Three reported U.S. airstrikes targeted suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in Quraydah area, al Sawma district, al Bayda governorate, central Yemen on September 9. Reported U.S. airstrikes last targeted AQAP militants in Yakal area, northwestern al Bayda governorate on August 19.^[2]

Shabwah police arrested three members of an AQAP cell and its leader in Ataq city, Shabwah governorate on September 10, according to the director of the police force. Shabwah Police believe the cell was responsible for a deadly attack on soldiers in Rudum district, Shabwah governorate in January and planned to assassinate local leaders. Security forces are still searching for remaining members of the cell. U.S. and Emirati Special Operations Forces backed a Yemeni operation to establish security in major population areas in Shabwah governorate on August 3.^[3]

AQAP militants attacked al Houthi-Saleh forces in the al Zaharah area, northwestern al Bayda governorate on September 8. AQAP frames its attacks on al Houthi-Saleh militants as in defense of Yemen’s Sunni against Shia invaders.^[4] 

An Emirati pilot died in a plane crash caused by technical malfunctions on September 11, according to a state-run Emirati news station. Another Emirati soldier died in a separate incident after sustaining injuries in Yemen. UAE Armed Forces participate in the Saudi-led coalition against the al Houthi-Saleh movement and train security forces in southern and eastern Yemen.^[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

Al Shabaab militants captured a Somali National Army (SNA) base and freed 35 prisoners in Beled Hawo, Gedo Region, southern Somalia on September 11. Over one hundred eighty Somali soldiers fled the base into Kenya following the attack. An important trade route that supplies the Somali Federal Government runs through the town of Beled Hawo into Kenya.^[6]    

National Super Alliance (NASA) members of the Kenyan Parliament vowed to boycott the first session of Parliament on September 12. The Supreme Court of Kenya ruled the August 8 election invalid after NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga challenged its authenticity. NASA MPs stated the majority Jubilee party does not have the authority to call parliament in session until the new elections take place.^[7]

Al Shabaab militants detonated a suicide vest (SVEST) targeting the Hiraan region governor’s headquarters in Beledweyne, Hiraan region, central Somalia on September 10. The attack targeted Hiraan administration employees, according to al Shabaab spokesperson Abdiasis Abu Musab. The city of Beledweyne lies on a major road and trade route between Ethiopia and Mogadishu, the capital of the Somali Federal Government.^[8] 

Al Shabaab militants shelled Mogadishu Stadium in Mogadishu, Banadir region, southern Somalia on September 10. African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force use the stadium as a military base. The stadium hosted Somalia’s first night soccer game in thirty years on September 8 after the world soccer governing organization, FIFA, finished renovations on the stadium to raise morale and public support of the Somali Federal Government.^[9]