Gulf of Aden Security Review - June 14, 2013

Yemen: Yemenis demonstrate in Sana’a; Yemeni security forces fire artillery on armed tribesmen; bomb squad defuses IED in Ataq, Shabwah; police arrest man involved with power line attacks in Sana’a governorate; Yemeni military launches operation in Ma’rib governorate; Yemeni coast guard inaugurates new boat; security forces stop clash in Sana’a; kidnappers free teachers in Ma’rib; U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee gives President Obama authority to transfer prisoners from Guantanamo

Horn of Africa: Unknown gunmen kill civilian in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle region; Somali and AMISOM troops conduct security operations in Dhambal, Bay region; UNSC issues press release on Jubbaland situation; Somaliland government rejects UN plan to open offices in its territories; Somali cabinet drafts airspace sovereignty bill; Somali president sends envoy to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Somali president travels to London, England; Somali government to establish constitutional violations court

Yemen Security Brief

• Yemenis demonstrated against abuses by the security services on June 13 in Sana’a. They protested the deaths of 13 al Houthis killed during demonstrations in the Capital by Yemeni security services on June 9.[1]

• Yemeni security forces fired artillery on tribal militants and destroyed two homes in Jardan, Ma’rib governorate on June 12. The militants were suspected in the recent attacks on power lines. Gunmen also prevented engineer teams from the General Foundation for Electricity from fixing power lines in Jardan, Ma’rib governorate for the third day in a row.[2]

• The Yemeni bomb squad defused an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting the Southern Movement’s rally in Ataq, Shabwah governorate on June 13. Military police arrested Khaled Shayf Shadhabh, one of the men accused of attacking electricity towers in Furdat Nihm, Sana’a governorate, on June 14.[3]

• The Yemeni military launched a large operation in Ma’rib on June 13 to prevent further attacks on electric towers and engineering teams.[4]

• The Yemeni coast guard launched a new boat, the “Aden,” on June 13 to help combat smuggling and piracy in the Gulf of Aden.[5]

• Security forces stopped a tribal clash in Sana’a over a land dispute on June 12. The military did not report any casualties.[6]

• After tribal mediation, kidnappers freed the three university professors and the driver that they seized last week in Ma’rib.[7]

• The Senate Armed Services Committee voted on June 13 to allow President Barack Obama more authority to move prisoners out of Guantanamo Bay. Of the 166 inmates still imprisoned, 89 are from Yemen.[8] 

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Unknown gunmen killed a civilian in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle region on June 12. The reason behind the shooting is reportedly clan related but those behind the murder have not been caught.[9]

• Somali and AMISOM troops conducted security operations in Dhambal, Bay region on June 14. At least seven suspected militants were arrested during the searches.[10]

• The United Nations Security Council issued a press release on June 13 illustrating its worries over the security situation in Jubbaland and reiterating its support for Somali government control in establishing a Jubbaland administration.[11]

• During a meeting with United Nations Ambassador to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, in Hargeisa on June 14, the Somaliland government refused to allow the UN to open offices in its territories.[12]

• The Somali cabinet drafted a bill on June 13 that would allow the Somali government sovereignty over its airspace.[13]

• Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent an envoy to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 10 in an effort to reestablish a positive relationship with the Ethiopian president. There was a rift between the two leaders when President Mohamud supported Egypt’s outcry over a dam built on the Nile by the Ethiopian government.[14]

• Somali President Mohamud traveled to London, England on June 13 to attend the Queen of England’s birthday party, as well as meet other heads of state who are gathering for an industrialized nations conference.[15]

• Somali deputy justice minister announced the government’s intent to establish a court that would handle any claims concerning constitutional violations.[16]