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: AQAP militants assassinate Yemeni security officers in Lahij; Yemeni president sends delegation to Sa’ada
Horn of Africa: Kenyan and U.S. officials warn of al Shabaab threat on anniversary of Westgate Mall attack
Yemen Security Review
- Militants from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) insurgent arm, Ansar al Sharia, assassinated two Yemeni security officials in al Hawta, Lahij on September 11.[1]
- Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi sent a presidential delegation to Sa’ada on September 11 to discuss resolving Yemen’s crisis with Abdul Malik al Houthi, leader of the al Houthi movement. There is still no confirmation on whether a deal has been made with the al Houthis.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
- A senior Kenyan police official warned that an al Shabaab attack could coincide with the one-year anniversary of the group’s September 21 siege on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The announcement echoed a recent security message issued by the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi on maintaining heightened security awareness ahead of the anniversary.[3]
[1] “Lahij: two officers assassinated in down al Hawta,” Barakish Net, September 12, 2014 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=162657
“Al-Qaeda suspects kill Yemen intel officer,” The Daily Star, September 12, 2014. Available: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Sep-12/270464-al-qaeda-suspects-shoot-dead-yemen-intel-officer.ashx#axzz3D6abo39K
AQAP Twitter account, September 12, 2014.
[2] “Al Jazeera: president Hadi assigns delegation to go to Sa’ada to meet with al Houthi leader,” al Masdar, September 11, 2014 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/61889
[3]Hudson Gumbihi, “Watch out, Al-Shabaab ‘may strike on 9/21’,” Standard Media, September 12, 2014. Available: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/thenairobian/article/2000134621/watch-out-al-shabaab-may-strike-on-9-21
“SECURITY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS: ANNIVERSARIES OF SEPTEMBER 11 AND WESTGATE MALL ATTACKS,” U.S. Department of State, September 9, 2014. Available: http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/annattack.html
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