Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 5, 2022

Yemen: The UN Secretary-General says the UN is continuing negotiations to pursue a truce extension; Houthis reject Saudi-Yemeni offer to pay salaries of government employees

Somalia: Ethiopian and regional forces clash with al Shabaab along the southwestern Ethiopia-Somalia border; al Shabaab shells a Kenyan army base in southern Somalia; SNA and local militia forces secure a recently contested town in central Somalia

Yemen Security Brief:

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Yemen’s warring parties to avoid “provocations” that could imperil ongoing negotiations to renew the truce on October 4.^[i] Guterres’ spokesperson said Guterres is “disappointed” that the Yemeni truce was not extended before its October 2 deadline but promised to continue negotiations in pursuit of an extension.

A member of the Houthi Political Bureau said the Houthis rejected a Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government proposal to pay the salaries for government employees on October 4.^[ii] The Houthis rejected the offer because it excluded provisions for the Houthi-controlled Defense and Interior Ministry salaries and pensions.

Somalia Security Brief:

Ethiopian Somali Region Liyu Police attacked al Shabaab near several border towns in the Bakool and Gedo regions in southwestern Somalia on October 4 and 5.[iii] Al Shabaab claimed it killed ten policemen in the fighting.[iv] Al Shabaab counterattacked Liyu Police and Ethiopian National Defense Force soldiers near Quracle, El Barde district, Bakool region, southwestern Somalia, on October 5.[v] Al Shabaab claimed its counterattack killed 63 policemen, including three senior officers, and wounded 80.[vi]

Al Shabaab shelled a Kenyan African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) base near Afmadow, Lower Jubba region, southern Somalia, on October 4. Al Shabaab claimed the attack killed two Kenyan soldiers.[vii]

Somali National Army (SNA) and local Ma’awisley militia forces secured the town of Yasooman, Burlo Burde district, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on October 4.[viii] Anti-al Shabaab forces initially captured the town after a multi-day battle that reportedly killed over 100 al Shabaab militants on September 20.[ix] Al Shabaab claimed to recapture the town on October 1 after SNA and Ma’awisley withdrew from the area.[x]