Gulf of Aden Security Review - January 20, 2015

Yemen: Al Houthis battle military in Sana’a near presidential offices; al Houthis kidnap President’s chief of staff; Ansar al Sharia attack kills 5 soldiers in Hadramawt; Ansar al Sharia attacks military convoy in Shabwah

Horn of Africa: Prominent cleric killed in Bay region; IED kills Somali district official in Mogadishu

Yemen Security Brief

• Fighting between al Houthi forces and security forces broke out in the capital Sana’a near the Presidential Palace on January 19. A ceasefire was agreed on January 19, but clashes resumed on January 20.The fighting began after President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government attempted to vote on a new constitution despite al Houthi objections.[1]

• Al Houthi militants kidnapped President Hadi’s Chief of Staff Ahmed bin Mubarak on January 17 in Sana’a. The al Houthis claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and said that it was to stop the government from trying to vote on a new constitution.[2]

• Suspected Ansar al Sharia militants killed five Yemini soldiers on January 20 in the al Qatan district of Hadramawt.[3]

• Suspected Ansar al Sharia militants attacked a military convoy near a military base on January 19 in al Saeed, Shabwah.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Unidentified gunmen killed a prominent cleric on January 18 in Baidoa, Bay region. The cleric was reportedly aligned with the paramilitary group Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a, which is currently fighting al Shabaab. Somali security forces arrested 190 suspected militants on January 20 in response to the attack.[5]

• Suspected al Shabaab militants detonated a roadside improvised explosive device on January 19 in Mogadishu killing a Somali district official and two body guards. [6]