Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 30, 2022

Yemen: US Envoy to Yemen visits Oman to discuss peace efforts in Yemen; Yemeni president meets with UN envoy to Yemen; Yemeni president and PLC members meet with UAE justice minister

Somalia: Anti-al Shabaab forces withdraw from a strategic town in north-central Somalia; Southwest State security forces kill two al Shabaab commanders in southern Somalia; Southwest State security forces arrest three journalists in southern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief:

US Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking met with the Omani undersecretary for diplomatic affairs in Muscat, Oman, to discuss “peace efforts in Yemen.”[i] Lenderking will also meet with Saudi officials during his trip to the region.[ii] The trip began on November 27.

Yemeni President Rashad al Alimi met with UN Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg in Amman on November 29 before Alimi departed Amman.[iii] The Yemeni foreign minister and the director of the Office of the Presidency of the Yemeni Republic accompanied Alimi.

President Alimi and Presidential Leadership Council members Tariq Saleh and Abdullah al Alimi departed Amman on November 29 for Abu Dhabi.[iv] They arrived in Abu Dhabi on November 30 and met with the UAE justice minister and Yemeni ambassador to the UAE.[v] 

Somalia Security Brief:

Somali National Army (SNA) and local Ma’awisley militia forces withdrew from the crossroads town of Qayib, Dhusamareb district, Galmudug region, north-central Somalia, on November 29.[vi] Al Shabaab militants attacked the town the day before but the SNA claimed to repel the attack.[vii]

Southwest State security forces carried out an operation against al Shabaab militants near Awdinele, Baidoa district, Bay region, southern Somalia, on November 30. Southwest State officials claimed the operation killed several al Shabaab militants, including two commanders.[viii]

Southwest State security forces arrested three journalists of the Somali Journalists Syndicate in Baidoa, Bay region, southern Somalia, on November 30.[ix]