Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 23, 2009

Yemen: Security forces in Taiz arrest members of the new "Popular Movement for Justice and Change"; MP's accuse figures tied to regime of involvement in arms trafficking as ship reportedly with Chinese-made weapons anchors off coast of Hodeida; around 200 Somali refugees reach Yemeni coast; Reporters Without Borders ranks Yemen 167 out of 175 in Press Freedom Index

Horn of Africa: Somali Transitional Federal Government and al-Shabaab declare escalation of operations; African leaders ratify convention on internally-displaced persons; advanced U.S. military drones to patrol off Somali coast for pirates�

Yemen Security Brief

• In Taiz governorate, security forces arrested 15 citizens and prevented the organization of a rally for a new movement, "Popular Movement for Justice and Change."� Sultan al-Samae, the leader of the movement, stated that the movement was legal under the constitution and that it included a number of political and social figures.� He added that its goals are the "establishment of a state of law and order, equal citizenship, real partnership, and comprehensive local governance.[1]

• The Yemeni Parliament has demanded that a comprehensive report on a ship suspected of carrying Chinese-made weapons anchored off the coast of Hodeida province be submitted by next Monday.� Members of Parliament have accused figures close to Saleh's government of involvement in arms trafficking, saying that the arms go to support insurgent and al-Qaeda operations in the region.� Reportedly, the ship never entered Yemeni waters but is being monitored under international surveillance.[2]

• Around 200 Somali refugees arrived on the Yemeni coastlines of Taiz, Abyan, and Hadramout yesterday according to the Interior Ministry.� Recently, the Interior Ministry reported that around 3,615 Somali refugees entered Yemen during the month of September.[3]

• Reporters Without Borders released its 2009 Press Freedom Index, ranking Yemen 167 out of 175 countries.� According to the report, the media faces restrictions when reporting on separatist movements.� In addition, the Yemeni government has imposed a news blackout on military operations.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Both the Transitional Federal Government and al-Shabaab have declared that they will escalate their offensives against the other side.� The TFG reports that its troops trained in Kenya and in the south are ready to move in and recapture Mogadishu and southern Somalia.� Meanwhile, al-Shabaab threatened to expand its operations beyond Somalia's borders to Uganda and Burundi, the two countries contributing forces to the AU peacekeeping mission.[5]

• African leaders ratified a convention on the protection of Africa's internally-displaced people, refugees, and returnees.� The first of its kind, the convention calls on states to assist displaced people with special needs.� Africa is home to between 12 and 14 million displaced people, most of whom have fled their homes due to political violence.� Nearly one-sixth of Somalia's 10 million citizens are displaced.[6]

• U.S. military surveillance drones are patrolling off the coast of Somalia hoping to curtail piracy in the Gulf of Aden.� Smaller drones had previously been launched off of American warships, but more advanced Reapers are now operating in the area.[7]

�