Gulf of Aden Security Review - November 19, 2013

Yemen: Suspected U.S. airstrike kills three AQAP militants; AQAP militants kill eight Yemeni police and a Special Forces officer in Shabwah; UN envoy to Yemen believes President Hadi will remain in office past transition period; General People’s Congress protest member’s suspension; WFP begins cash transfers for food cost program

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab kills 22 police and civilians in Beledweyne, Hiraan region; AMISOM considers new offensive; Ambassador Annadif meets with Baidoa leaders; Prime Minister Shirdon demands end to KM-50 conflict

Yemen Security Brief

• A suspected U.S. airstrike killed three suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in Hadramawt governorate on November 19.[1]

• Suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants ambushed and killed eight Yemeni police officers at a gas exporting facility in the Belhaf terminal of Shabwah governorate on November 18. Earlier that day, a Special Forces officer was abducted and shot to death near the same location in Shabwah governorate.[2]

• The UN envoy to Yemen announced that President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi will likely remain in office past the two-year transition period due to delays from political opponents, on November 18.[3]

• The General People’s Congress (GPC) protested the suspension of Najeeba Mutahar from the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) on November 18.[4]

• World Food Program kicked off a program to provide cash transfers to cover the food costs of 57,000 households in Taiz and Ibb governorates in Yemen, on November 19.[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab militants killed at least 22 police and civilians during an attack on a police station in Beledweyne, Hiraan region on November 19. The militants detonated a car bomb outside of the police station, and then proceeded to gun down officers inside.[6]

• A Ugandan AMISOM commander stated that AMISOM would consider a new offensive upon arrival of the additional 4,000 troops, on November 18.[7]

• AU Special Representative to Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, met with community elders in Baidoa to discuss security and stabilization efforts on November 18.[8]

• Somali Prime Minister Shirdon demanded the warring sides of KM-50 cease hostilities in Lower Shabelle region, on November 18.[9]