Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 29, 2020

Yemen: Hadi calls on STC to abide by Riyadh Agreement; Hadi government forces exchange artillery with STC forces in Abyan governorate; Anti–al Houthi forces claim control of al Houthi–held areas in Sa'ada governorate

Horn of Africa: Somali special forces seize four al Shabaab–held towns in southern Somalia; ISCA claims attack on military posts in northeastern Mozambique; Somali officials postpone Somalia’s general election to next year

Yemen Security Brief:

President of the internationally recognized Yemeni government Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi called on the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) to abide by the November 2019 Riyadh Agreement during a meeting with Hadi government officials in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on June 27. This is President Hadi’s first public statement since the STC declared self-rule in southern Yemen in late April. Several Hadi government officials arrived in Riyadh to discuss implementing the power-sharing Riyadh Agreement on June 24.[1]

Hadi government forces exchanged artillery with STC forces near Shaqra city in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate on June 29. Hadi government forces clashed with STC forces in Shaqra city after the Saudi-led coalition announced that the STC and Hadi government agreed to a cease-fire in Abyan governorate on June 22.[2]

Anti–al Houthi forces claimed control of al Houthi–held areas in Kataf district in northern Yemen’s Sa'ada governorate on June 25. Al Houthi militants reportedly used this territory to launch missiles toward Saudi Arabia. Saudi-led coalition forces claimed shooting down an al Houthi ballistic missile targeting Najran city in southwestern Saudi Arabia in mid-June that al Houthi militants reportedly fired from Sa’ada governorate.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Somalia’s Danab special forces recaptured four al Shabaab–held towns near Kismayo in southern Somalia’s Lower Jubba region on June 28, according to a Somali military official. Danab special forces recaptured at least four al Shabaab-held towns in Lower Jubba region on June 24.[4]

The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCA) claimed attacking military posts aligned with South African states near Mocimboa da Praia town in Cabo Delgado province in northeastern Mozambique on June 27. ISCA reported killing 10 people and capturing multiple weapons. Islamic State–aligned militants raised the Islamic State flag in Macomia district in Cabo Delgado province in late May.[5]

A National Independent Electoral Commission official announced that Somalia will be unable to hold its planned general election this year. The official stated that the earliest Somalia would be able to hold a general election would be March 2021 to allow for adequate voter registration preparation. Somalia’s first general election in 50 years was originally planned for this October.[6]