Gulf of Aden Security Review - July 9, 2010

Yemen: Coast Guard builds base to deter Somali pirates

Horn of Africa: TFG seeking to recover funds; Kenya FM says veteran militants relocating to Somalia, stronger U.S. presence needed; al Shabaab calls for attacks on Burundian, Ugandan diplomats around the world; Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a spokesman says cabinets posts actually given to warlords; Somali parliament to vote on motion of no-confidence against PM; al Shabaab attacks Burundi base in Mogadishu, one killed; newly-appointed U.N. envoy applauds AMISOM troop increase; Eritrea information minister says more AMISOM troops won’t help Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

• The Yemeni Coast Guard has announced that it is constructing a new maritime security base in the Bab Al Mandab Strait to protect commercial shipping traveling from Europe to Asia through the Red Sea.  The area is a frequent target for Somali pirates.[1]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Somalia’s TFG seeks to recover Somali funds held in previous regimes’ bank accounts.  Last year, President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed appointed Ali Amalow, the head of the central bank in Siad Barre’s government, to lead the efforts to recover funds, which amount to at least $100 million.  The TFG’s 2010 budget, the first published in 20 years, estimates about $110 million needed per year for the government to run effectively and that expected earnings from customs is $22 million.  It had about $3 million from donors as of December 2009.[2]

• Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said many veteran militants have relocated to Somalia from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. He also said the lack of American involvement in the country is below his expectations, and a strong U.S. presence would help stabilize the country and reduce piracy.[3]

• Al Shabaab called on Islamists around the world to attack diplomatic missions from Burundi and Uganda in response to a proposed increase of AMISOM troops in Somalia.[4]

• Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a spokesman Abu Yusuf al Qadi claimed the cabinet posts allotted to his group were actually given to warlords, and the Prime Minister had wrongly attributed those men to Ahlu Sunna.[5]

• The Somali parliament is expected to vote on a motion of no-confidence against PM Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke because his term has expired.[6]

• Al Shabaab militants attacked a Burundian base in Mogadishu Friday, sparking a battle with AMISOM troops that killed one civilian and wounded several others.[7]

• The new U.N. envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, welcomed the decision by IGAD to increase AMISOM’s troop presence in the country by 2,000 peacekeepers.[8]