Gulf of Aden Security Review - December 4, 2019

Yemen: Hadi government-aligned forces accuse al Houthis of waging offensive in al Hudaydah; Omani Foreign Minister hopeful for peace in Yemen

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attempts to destroy telecoms mast in eastern Kenya; al Shabaab attacks Kenyan AMISOM base in Lower Jubba region; Djiboutian AMISOM troops shoot protestors in Hiraan region; Somali security forces arrest al Shabaab militant in Mogadishu; US and Sudan to exchange ambassadors after 23-year gap

Yemen Security Brief

Hadi government-aligned forces accused the al Houthi movement on December 3 of initiating a new offensive in al Hudaydah port city in western Yemen. The al Houthi movement allegedly moved forces to Duraimi district in the south of the city, placed new landmines and deployed military vehicles to the city, and attacked areas in between UN-administered checkpoints. The al Houthi movement has not commented on these claims.[1]

Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf Bin Alawi stated on December 3 that there is an opportunity to end the Yemeni civil war. Alawi stated that all parties to the conflict “agree that it is time to resolve this conflict.” Oman is mediating indirect cease-fire negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the al Houthis, according to multiple media reports.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

Al Shabaab attacked a telecommunications mast in the Diiso area of Garissa County in eastern Kenyan on December 4. Militants damaged the mast, but Kenyan security forces forced the militants to retreat before they could destroy it.[3]

Al Shabaab attacked a base manned by Kenyan forces serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Jubbaland Security Forces in Qoqani area in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia on December 4.[4]

Djiboutian AMISOM forces shot and killed a civilian protester and injured two others in Bulo Burde town in Hiraan region in central Somalia on December 3. Protests began after the appointment of a new town mayor.[5]

Somali security forces arrested an al Shabaab militant as he attempted to conduct a grenade attack in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on December 4.[6]

The US and Sudan agreed to initiate the process of exchanging ambassadors for the first time in 23 years on December 4. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who has led Sudan’s transitional government since August, is currently in Washington for meetings with US officials.[7]

Visit our Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Kenya, and Sudan storystreams.