Gulf of Aden Security Review - November 10, 2014

Yemen: Yemen’s GPC removes President Hadi as leader of the party in Sana’a; President Hadi swears in a new government in Sana’a; UNSC imposes sanctions on former President Saleh; Ansar al Sharia militants attack al Houthi militants in al Bayda; Ansar al Sharia claims assassination attempt of US Ambassador

Horn of Africa: al Shabaab militants retake town in Lower Jubba region; al Shabaab militants detonate a SVBIED in Mogadishu; suspected al Shabaab militants conduct targeted attacks in Lower Shabelle and Gedo regions; al Shabaab militants release video depicting raid in Lower Shabelle region

Yemen Security Brief

• Yemen’s General People’s Congress (GPC) ousted President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi as the leader of the party in Sana’a on November 8, claiming President Hadi supported sanctions against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The GPC also reinstalled Saleh as the leader of the party.[1]

• President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi officially appointed a new government in Sana’a on November 9, including 36 ministers. President Hadi’s former party, the GPC, called the appointments unrepresentative while the al Houthi movement also stated they will reject some of the appointments. 30 of the appointees were sworn in on November 9, while three rejected their appointments and three others stated they were still considering.[2]

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against former President Saleh and two al Houthi military commanders on November 7, claiming they were conspiring together to destabilize the country.[3]

• Ansar al Sharia militants claimed to have detonated a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) near an al Houthi controlled building in al Manaseh, al Bayda, 150 km southeast of Sana’a, on November 8, reportedly killing dozens of al Houthis. Separately, Ansar al Sharia militants attacked al Houthi gunmen in Rada’a, al Bayda, 150 km southeast of Sana’a, on November 10, killing 30 al Houthis.[4]

• Ansar al Sharia claimed credit on November 8 for leaving two unsuccessful IEDs outside the home of President Hadi in Sana’a on November 6, which were set to detonate as U.S. Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller left from a meeting in Hadi’s home.[5]

Horn of Africa Security Review

• Al Shabaab militants retook Kuda Island, Lower Jubba region on November 8 after losing the territory to African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Jubbaland security forces on October 29. Heavy fighting reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than twenty militants and more than fifty soldiers. Kenyan AMISOM force conducted airstrikes targeting al Shabaab militants near Kuda Island in response to the incident, reportedly killing fifty militants on November 9. [6]

• Al Shabaab militants detonated an SVBIED in Mogadishu on November 9, resulting in an unknown number of casualties.[7] 

• Suspected al Shabaab militants shot and killed a security official in Marka, Lower Shabelle region on November 9. The militants involved in the incident remain at large. Separately, Al Shabaab militants hijacked a vehicle containing three doctors and two drivers near As Asey village, Gedo region. [8]

• Al Shabaab’s media branch, al Kataib Media Foundation, released a short video on November 7 depicting a raid on the town of Mubarack in Lower Shabelle region. The video shows militants planning the operation, executing the attack, and proceeding to celebrate with what appear to be civilians.[9]