Gulf of Aden Security Review - November 29, 2012

Yemen: Yemeni security committee offers money for information about Saudi official assassination; Ansar al Sharia source says kidnapped Saudi diplomat is in good health; Joint Meeting Parties and al Houthis form joint committee; unidentified individuals kidnap senior security official in Hadramawt governorate; Southern Mobility Movement supporters demonstrate in Crater city of Aden governorate; security forces seize large quantities of banned pesticides; President Hadi appoints advisor to Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; Islah Party supporters clash with youth in Taiz governorate

Horn of Africa: Somali government removes roadblocks in Mogadishu; Somali interior minister says troops will be paid and war against al Shabaab will not stop; Somali commander says al Shabaab is running low on supplies; Somali military official accuses the governor of Marka, Lower Shabelle of aiding al Shabaab

Yemen Security Brief

• A Yemeni security committee offered a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the killers of Saudi military official Khalid al Anzi. Anzi was gunned down by unidentified assailants near 50th Street in Sana’a on November 28.[1]

• An unidentified Ansar al Sharia source reported on November 29 that Abdallah al Khalidi is in good health. Khalidi, a Saudi diplomat, was kidnapped in Aden governorate on March 23, 2012. The source added that reports of Khalidi’s deteriorating health are untrue. A video of Khalidi discussing his health status will reportedly be broadcasted soon according to the source.[2]

• Leaders of the Joint Meeting Parties and al Houthi representatives reportedly came to an agreement on November 27 to resolve issues between both parties. The agreement also calls for establishing a joint committee to address urgent national issues, including recent unrest in Taiz governorate.[3]

• Unidentified individuals kidnapped Nemiri al Awdi, Deputy Director of Traffic in al Qatan district, in Hadramawt governorate on November 29. Local sources added that Awdi was on his way to morning prayer at a local mosque when he was kidnapped.[4]

• Local sources reported that hundreds of Southern Mobility Movement demonstrators blocked off key roads in Crater city of Aden governorate on November 29. The protesters reportedly held pictures of former Vice President of Yemen Ali Salem al Beidh and blocked transportation buses. The demonstrators are celebrating the independence day of the now dissolved southern state, the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen.[5]

• Security forces seized large quantities of prohibited pesticides in Haiz district of al Hudaydah governorate on November 29. The pesticides, which included potent American-manufactured products, were reportedly found in three separate vehicles.[6]

• President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi appointed Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Saeed Sweileh as an advisor to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces on November 29. Maj. Gen. Sweileh was the former Commander of the Engineer Corps.[7]

• Violent clashes broke out between Islah (Reform) Party supporters and youth in Taiz city on November 29. Local sources added that Islah Party supporters blocked the youth from entering Hurriyah (Freedom) Square, sparking the clashes. A number of youth were injured in the clashes.[8]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• The Somali government continued removing roadblocks on November 28 in the Wadajir district of Mogadishu. Somali forces removed over sixty roadblocks and installed military personnel at each point where a roadblock was taken down, to ensure none were replaced.[9]

• Somalia’s Minister of the Interior, Abdikarem Hassan Guled, speaking to military officials in Beledweyne, Hiraan region on November 28, said the Somali government will soon pay Somali soldiers the salary owed to them. Minister Guled also said that the Somali military will not stop fighting al Shabaab until all the areas under al Shabaab control in the Hiraan region are liberated.[10]

• A Somali commander speaking to reporters said that the Somali government believes al Shabaab to be on the run. One commander explained that the Somali government had the tactical and material advantage and that al Shabaab was running out of food and water.[11]

• A Somali military official accused the governor of Marka, Lower Shabelle region of working with al Shabaab. Commander Liiban Mohamed Yusuf said Governor Ahmed Moalim Abdirahman is giving material support to the militant group and also provides it with intelligence reports.[12]