Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 2, 2009

Yemen: Yemeni military denies al-Houthi claims of shooting down MiG 21; the government arrested 24 al-Houthi rebels, including one from Yemen's most wanted list; two men arrested in connection with failed assassination attempt in south; Civil Defense delegation to attend a disaster management symposium in Riyadh

Horn of Africa: Hizb al-Islam imposes curfew in Beledweyn; Puntland bans broadcast of the VOA Somalia Service; the U.S. withholds aid from Somalia following concerns that aid is funneled to al-Shabaab; President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed appealed for increased support from the U.S. during first visit to Washington, DC

Yemen Security Brief�

• The Yemeni military denies a claim that al-Houthi rebels have brought down a MiG 21 warplane in the northern region of Sa'ada; instead, the military reports that technical problems brought the plane down. Recent fighting along the road linking the capital with Sa'ada city in the Harf Sufyan district of Amran province has killed five rebels and four soldiers.[1]

• Twenty-four al-Houthi rebels, including one from Yemen's most wanted list, were arrested. Sixteen rebels were caught together in the old city of Sa'ada and reports say that security forces are after three remaining members of the group. Within the sixteen was Mohsen Saleh al-Hamzi, number 14 of 55 on the Yemeni most wanted list. Eight other rebels were captured in the Alb area to the northeast of Sa'ada city. In addition to these arrests, the military also announced the destruction of vehicles carrying fuel to the rebels and two cars filled with weapons. Supplies are now being targeted by the military as part of a new tactic to weaken the al-Houthi rebels.[2]

• In the south, security forces arrested two men for the failed assassination attempt of Nasser Mansour Hadi, the head of the Yemeni security forces. Mokhtar Ali Taleb and Mahmoud Saleh Da'era, both followers of Tariq al-Fadhli, are said to have admitted to carrying out the attack on Hadi.[3]

• A delegation from the Civil Defense will be in Riyadh for a symposium on disaster management. In attendance will be academics, experts in disaster management, representatives from regional and international organizations, as well as other delegations. Mohammed Abdu Haider, Aden-based director of Civil Defense, noted that the Yemeni delegation would meet with other participating delegations in order to discuss cooperation between their countries.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Hizb al-Islam has imposed a curfew in the town of Beledweyn, reportedly for security reasons. Yesterday, more fighters, led by Beledweyn Governor Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow, arrived with many battle wagons.[5]

• A decree issued by the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Security in Puntland banned the airing of VOA Somalia Service programs on local radios. The decree noted that VOA had been welcomed with hopes that it would promote peace but that those who lead the station in Washington, DC, "blatantly participate in the creation of instability in parts of Somalia." English-language programs of VOA continue to be played on Radio Garowe, since the ban only applies to the Somali Section.[6]

• The United States, the largest donor to Somalia, has decided to withhold aid to Somalia in light of growing concerns that UN contractors may be diverting American money to al-Shabaab. UN officials say that at least $50 million in American assistance has been delayed until a better way to police aid-distribution is found. Al-Shabaab was listed as a foreign terrorist organization last year; however, some UN officials say that they need to work with local al-Shabaab commanders in order to deliver humanitarian aid.[7]�

• Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed appealed for increased security and humanitarian assistance during his first visit to Washington, DC. He noted in particular a need to invest in the reconstruction of state infrastructure, provision of money for salaries, military equipment, and additional arms. Under President Obama, the U.S. has already given around $150 million in bilateral assistance, as well as $10 million in military assistance to the AU peacekeeping force. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed also stressed that the government was prepared to negotiate with insurgent leaders, and that some have joined the TFG.[8]

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