Yemen: AQAP seizes three towns in Aden; French hostage Isabelle Prime freed
Horn of Africa: Puntland President calls for AMISOM assistance
Yemen Security Brief
- Suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants reportedly seized the towns of Rabat, al Lahoum, and al Masaabin in Aden governorate, southern Yemen, on August 6. Locals reported that upon seizing the town of al Lahoum, AQAP militants demolished a building claiming its owners were agents of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.[1]
- The Office of French President Francois Hollande stated that French native Isabelle Prime had been freed by her captors on August 7. Prime and her translator, Shereen Makawi, were kidnapped on February 24 in Sana’a by Yemeni tribesman. Makawi had been freed earlier this year. Prime has been transported to Oman.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
- Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali stated during an interview with Reuters on August 6 that Puntland needs supply and technological assistance from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in the fight against al Shabaab. AMISOM currently does not operate in the breakaway state and has not yet responded to President Ali’s remarks.[3]
[1] “Al-Qaida Exploits Yemen Chaos to Seize 3 Towns,” The New York Times, August 7, 2015. Available: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/06/world/middleeast/ap-ml-yemen.html?_r=1
[2] “French aid worker hostage freed in Yemen,” Reuters, August 7, 2015. Available: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/07/us-france-yemen-hostage-idUSKCN0QB2L320150807
[3] Abdiqani Hassan, “Puntland seeks resources as Somali militants enter its territory,” Reuters, August 6, 2015. Available: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/06/us-somalia-security-puntland-idUSKCN0QB1W720150806
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