Gulf of Aden Security Review - November 26, 2018

Yemen: Suspected U.S. drone strike kills six AQAP militants in al Bayda governorate, central Yemen; UN Special Envoy to Yemen meets with al Houthi leaders in Sana’a; U.S. Secretary of Defense announces that UN-led peace talks will take place in early December; Iran hosts conference on Yemen in Tehran; Denmark halts arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants attack Sufi sheikh’s compound in Mudug region, central Somalia; Southwest state election commission approves former al Shabaab deputy leader’s candidacy; AFRICOM conducts two airstrikes in Mudug region, central Somalia; bodyguard kills senior al Shabaab commander in Bakool region, southern Somalia; al Shabaab militants injure deputy chairman of Puntland supreme court in Boosaaso, Puntland; al Shabaab militants behead elder in Gedo region, southern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

A suspected U.S. drone killed six al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) members in al Bayda governorate, central Yemen on November 25. Two of the militants were reportedly AQAP leaders in al Bayda.^[1]

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths met with al Houthi movement leader Abdul Malik al Houthi on November 22 in Sana’a. Griffiths and al Houthi discussed the conditions for a ceasefire and overseas medical treatment for al Houthi troops. Al Houthi asked Griffiths for an end to economic restrictions on al Houthi-controlled areas. Griffiths also visited al Hudaydah city, western Yemen on November 23 to urge calm ahead of UN-led peace consultations in Sweden, which will occur by the end of 2018.^[2]

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis stated on November 21 that UN-led peace talks will take place in Sweden in early December. Mattis reiterated that President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government, the al Houthi movement, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will participate in talks.^[3] 

Iran hosted an “International Conference to Support the Oppressed People of Yemen” in Tehran on November 22. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, Deputy IRGC Commander Brigadier Hossein Salami, Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, and head of the Basij Gholam Hossein Gheib Parvar all blamed the U.S. and Saudi Arabia for the conflict.^[4]

Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen announced on November 22 that Denmark will suspend exports of military equipment to Saudi Arabia due to concerns over the situation in Yemen and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.^[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

Al Shabaab militants killed Sufi Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Emi Yare, his wife, and at least 14 other people in a complex attack in Galkayo, Mudug region, central Somalia on November 25. Gunmen stormed Yare’s religious compound after a militant detonated a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED). Galmudug security forces killed the three militants.Al Shabaab claimed the attack.^[6] 

The Southwest state election commission postponed the state’s presidential election until December 5. The commission justified the delay on November 25 by claiming that it needed additional time to amend eligibility criteria for candidates. The commission formally approved the former deputy leader of al Shabaab, Mukhtar Robow, to run for the state presidency on November 25. Five candidates withdrew from the race and announced their support for Robow on November 25.^[7]

United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted two airstrikes against al Shabaab near Harardhere town, Mudug region, central Somalia on November 22. The airstrikes killed six militants. AFRICOM conducted five airstrikes in north-central Somalia last week, killing 50 militants.^[8] 

A bodyguard of senior al Shabaab commander Moallim Jinow in Bakool region, southern Somalia on November 25, according to unconfirmed reports. The bodyguard killed Jinow for initiating conflict with the Jubba clan. Jinow became a senior al Shabaab military commander in southwestern Somalia after Mukhtar Robow defected from al Shabaab.^[9]

Al Shabaab militants injured Saeed Abdi Mu’min, the Deputy Chairman of Puntland’s Supreme Court, in Boosaaso, Puntland on November 22.^[10]

Al Shabaab militants beheaded a prominent elder and vocal opponent of al Shabaab at his home in Beled Hawo, Gedo region, southwestern Somalia on November 22. The militants also abducted two of the elder’s sons.^[11]