Gulf of Aden Security Review - August 3, 2012

Yemen: Yemeni president and emir of Qatar discuss bilateral relations in Doha; tribesmen release Italian embassy guard

Horn of Africa: TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed willing to grant amnesty to pirates who release hostages and hijacked vessels; Sool government employee gunned down in Las Anod; head of UN Political Office for Somalia urges the NCA to vote on and form a new parliament; Hillary Clinton commends the passing of Somalia’s provisional constitution

Yemen Security Brief

• Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi returned to Sana’a after visiting the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani. The two met in Doha to discuss the political settlement process and current crisis in the region.[1]

• Ma’rib tribesmen released recently kidnapped Italian embassy guard Alessandro Spadotto to local government authorities after five days of captivity. A Yemeni government official said that Spadotta will be transported from Ma’rib to Sana’a and added that he is in good health.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

• Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed allegedly said that up to 2,000 Somali pirates would be granted amnesty if they released hostages and hijacked vessels. The UN estimates that 245 hostages are currently being held in Somalia.[3]

• Local residents reported that Sool government employee Abdi Awil Hassan was gunned down by three gunmen in army uniforms in Las Anod late on August 2. After the shooting, police officers reportedly arrested an unspecified number of suspects.[4]

• Head of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) Augustine Mahiga called on the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) comprised of 825 Somali elders to quickly vote on Somalia’s 275-member parliament. Mahiga made his remarks at the closing of the NCA’s nine-day meeting in Mogadishu, which successfully voted on and passed Somalia’s provisional constitution on August 1.[5]

• U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated the NCA for passing Somalia’s provisional constitution in accordance with the timeline to end the transitional process. In a press statement, Clinton said, “By laying the foundations for a mutually agreed upon system of governance, this vote moves Somalia closer towards lasting stability.” Clinton also urged the NCA to elect a new parliament that will be responsible for electing the president on August 20.[6]