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]


[i] Al Sharq al Awsat, “UN Chief urges Yemen rivals: No new violence and renew truce,” October 4, 2022, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3910831/un-chief-urges-yemen-rivals-no-new-violence-and-renew-truce.

[ii] Al Alam, “Yemen..disclosure of a strange condition for the coalition in negotiations to extend the armistice,” October 4, 2022, https://www.alalam.ir/news/6385308.

[iii] Abu Bakr Jubbaawi, @AbuBakrJubbaawi, Twitter, October 4, 2022, https://twitter.com/AbuBakrJubbaawi/status/1577289181969190912?s=20&t=ha8zdImZiP8Z7ln5UOKC8A; Hiiraan Online, ”Somali regional state’s Liyu police capture army bases from al Shabab,” October 5, 2022, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2022/Oct/188106/somali_regional_state_s_liyu_police_capture_army_bases_from_al_shabab.aspx.

[iv] Somalimemo, ”10 police officers were killed in an attack in Bakool,” October 4, 2022,  https://somalimemo.info/articles/17052/10-Askari-Liyuu-Boolis-ah-oo-lagu-dilay-weerar-ka-dhacay-Bakool.

[v] Somalimemo, ”More than 50 police officers were killed in a battle in Bakool [Photos], October 5, 2022, https://somalimemo.info/articles/17054/Dagaal-lagu-dilay-in-ka-badan-50-kamid-ah-ciidamada-Liyuu-boolis-oo-ka-dhacay-Bakool-Sawirro.

[vi] Radio al Furqaan, “63 Policemen killed in heavy fighting in Bakool,” October 5, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/10/63-liyu-bolis-ah-oo-lagu-dilay-dagaal-culus-oo-ka-dhacay-bakool/.

[vii] Somalimemo, ”A Kenyan soldier who died at Kuyal police station in Afmadowe district,” October 4, 2022, https://somalimemo.info/articles/17051/Askar-Kenyaan-ah-oo-ku-dhintay-saldhiga-kuyaal-degmada-Afmadoow.

[viii] SONNA, ”National Army retake a key village, hunting down terrorists’ remnants,” October 4, 2022, https://sonna.so/en/2022/10/04/national-army-retake-a-key-village-hunting-down-terrorists-remnants/.

[ix] Brian Carter and Liam Karr, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 21, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 21, 2022, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-21-2022.

[x] Brian Carter and David Hessen, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 3, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, October 3, 2022, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-3-2022.

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