Gulf of Aden Security Review - August 27, 2012

• Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi spoke firmly with government and military officials August 26. President Hadi vowed to punish any individual who does not demonstrate commitment to the power-transfer process in Yemen. In later comments, he denied rumors that he is attempting to change his cabinet or increase the presidential term limit.[3]

• Yemeni police arrested two senior al Qaeda militants on August 26 after raiding a suspected terrorist hideout in al Tawahi neighborhood of Aden. According to the Yemeni Defense Ministry, the terrorists were from neighboring Abyan governorate and were well-armed with automatic and sniper rifles.[4]

• An activist for the Southern Movement was gunned down in Aden on August 26. Local sources witnessed unidentified gunmen drive by a Southern Movement camp and open fire on activists. Local police have opened an investigation into the incident, but have yet to identify any suspects.[5]

• A Yemeni security official requesting anonymity reported that clashes have resumed in al Tawahi neighborhood of Aden on Saturday. The clashes broke out after Yemeni security forces raided a suspected al Qaeda stronghold in the Mount Tawahi region, the location of last week’s intelligence headquarters attack.[6]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Kenyan Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed was gunned down on Monday in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. The radical cleric was on both the U.S. and UN sanction lists for supporting al Shabaab militants. He was considered by many as the ideological leader of Kenya’s al Hijra group.[7]

• Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed stated that parliament candidates rejected by the Technical Selection Committee (TSC) will be reviewed by Mogadishu’s high court the night of August 25. This decision breaks previous agreements in which parliament aspirants are selected solely based on TSC recommendations.[8]

• Al Shabaab-linked militant Mowlid Adan Qalalan surrendered to Puntland forces on August 25. Qalalan defected from the Galgala militia, a close affiliate of the al Shabaab network. According to AMISOM reports, Qalalan was a trusted agent of the al Shabaab network, commanding a platoon in the Galgala Mountains.[9]

• The selection for the Speaker of Parliament in Somalia has been delayed again. The selection has been delayed until tomorrow, as more parliament members are added to the electoral commission.[10]

• AMISOM and Somali troops recaptured Marka port from al Shabaab militants on Monday. AMISOM Colonel Ali Houmed reported that the fighting was limited as most al Shabaab militants fled the scene.[11]