Gulf of Aden Security Review - June 20, 2011

Yemen: Fighting kills 21 soldiers and militants in Zinjibar; over 100 clerics and tribal leaders petition transfer of power and elections in 60 days; U.S. drone attack in Jaar injures 6 civilians; armed militias take over U.S. school in Sana’a

Horn of Africa: Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed resigns from office; Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a arrests five suspected al Shabaab militants in Gedo region; fighting between government forces and al Shabaab in Garbaharey and Beled Hawo kills four people; unidentified attackers threw hand grenades at police station in Sool; al Shabaab executes two men for spying, arrests nine others for drug use; government forces clash with each other in Mogadishu

Yemen Security Brief

• Fighting in Abyan governorate’s capital city, Zinjibar, erupted between soldiers and Islamist militants on June 18. The militants were caught positioning a bomb along the roadside in an effort to ambush security forces traveling into the city. Clashes continued through June 19 killing 14 militants and seven soldiers.[1]

• Over one hundred religious clerics and tribal leaders joined the opposition and called for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down and for elections to be held in the next sixty days. The group issued a statement saying, “President Saleh is unable to carry out his responsibilities. He must step down.”[2]

• According the Yemen Post, a U.S. drone attack injured six civilians in Jaar in Abyan governorate.[3]

• According to Saba News, Yemen’s state news agency, armed militias of the First Armored Division surrounded a U.S. school in Sana’a. The soldiers demanded that the school guards abandon the school and took control of the building.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed resigned from office on Sunday after being pressured by the President and the Speaker of Parliament. Mohamed issued the statement, “Considering the interest of the Somali people and the current situation in Somalia, I have decided to leave my office.” He plans to stay in Mogadishu and continue working with the government.[5]

• The Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a reported the arrest of five suspected al Shabaab militants in Gedo region. The arrests occurred after Somali government and Ahlu Sunna military bases were attacked on Sunday.[6]

• Fighting erupted between al Shabaab insurgents and Somali government forces backed by Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a fighters in the towns of Garbaharey and Beled Hawo in Gedo region after insurgents attacked military bases in the Beled Hawo area. Four people were killed.[7]

• Unidentified attackers threw hand grenades at a police station in Sool region of Somaliland on June 19. Two policemen were injured.[8]

• Two young men were executed by al Shabaab insurgents in Mogadishu. They were charged and found guilty for spying on behalf of the Somali government by an al Shabaab court.[9]

• Al Shabaab militants arrested nine people in Wanlaweyn district in Lower Shabelle region for allegedly doing drugs.[10]

• Three people were killed and two injured on Friday when government forces clashed in Mogadishu with each other. The reason for the violence is unknown.[11]