Gulf of Aden Security Review
A regularly updated review of both Yemen and the Horn of Africa covering topics related to security, governance, and militant activity.
Yemen: Houthis seize Egyptian vessel in the Red Sea; AQAP member escapes prison in eastern Yemen
Somalia: Al Shabaab roadside IED targets SNA colonel; US-trained Danab forces secure villages in southern Somalia; al Shabaab holds Eid al Fitr celebrations in central and southern Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Egyptian media reported on May 1 that the Houthis detained an Egyptian fishing vessel in the Red Sea in March or April.[i] The Houthis seized the vessel and detained its 29 crewmembers.
An al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighter reportedly escaped from a prison in Seiyun, Hadramawt governorate, eastern Yemen.[ii] Ten AQAP fighters escaped from the same prison on April 14.[iii]
Somalia Security Brief:
Al Shabaab detonated a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a Somali National Army (SNA) colonel convoy along the Balad-Jowhar Road, Middle Shabelle, south-central Somalia, on April 30.[iv] The blast killed at least nine soldiers, but the colonel survived. Al Shabaab claimed to kill 12 soldiers.[v]
US-trained Danab forces secured Leego, Jameo, and other undisclosed villages in Burhakaba district, Bay region, southern Somalia on May 1.[vi] Danab officials said they destroyed al Shabaab bases and money transfer points.[vii]
Al Shabaab’s regional administrations held Eid al Fitr celebrations in Middle Jubba, Lower Jubba, and Bakool regions, southern Somalia and Galgudud region, central Somalia, on May 2.[viii]
[i] Al Masry Al Youm, “Houthi pirates hijack an Egyptian ship and its crew in the Red Sea,” May 1, 2022, https://www.masralyoum.net/Yemen/9068202/%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%B1.
[ii] Aden Lang, “Smuggling a new prisoner from al Qaeda from Seiyun prison,” May 2, 2022, http://adnlng.info/news/193593/.
[iii] Liam Karr, Brian Carter, and Max Ryabinin, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 15, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 15, 2022, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-15-2022.
[iv] Somali Dispatch, “Blast kills dozens of soldiers in Middle Shabelle,” April 30, 2022, https://www.somalidispatch.com/latest-news/blast-kills-dozens-of-soldiers-in-middle-shabelle/; Abdirisak Tuuryare, “Deadly blast kills ten soldiers near Mogadishu,” Mareeg News, April 30, 2022, https://mareeg.com/deadly-blast-kills-ten-soldiers-near-mogadishu/.
[v] Radio al Furqaan, “Col. Saney Survives Explosion Kills 12 of his Guardians,” April 30, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/04/col-saney-oo-ka-badbaaday-qarax-lagana-dilay-12-ilaaladiisa-ah/.
[vi] Abdirisak Tuuryare, “Somali special forces take over new areas from Al Shabab,” Mareeg News, May 1, 2022, https://mareeg.com/somali-special-forces-take-over-new-areas-from-al-shabab/.
[vii] Radio Risaala, “DANAB forces take control of Lower Shabelle & Bay regions,” May 1, 2022, https://radiorisaala.com/ciidanka-danab-oo-la-wareegay-degaano-katirsan-shabeellaha-hoose-baay/.
[viii] Calamada, “Pictures: how it was celebrated in Galhareri district,” May 2, 2022, https://calamada.com/sawirro-sida-looga-ciiday-degmada-galhareeri/; Calamada, “Pictures: Eid al Fitr celebrations in Sakow district,” May 2, 2022, https://calamada.com/sawirro-dabaal-dega-ciidul-fidriga-iyo-degmada-saakow/; Calamada, “Pictures: Eid al Fitr celebrations in the Islamic provinces,” May 2, 2022, https://calamada.com/dabaaldegyo-lagu-soo-dhaweeynayo-ciidda-oo-caawa-ka-socda-wilaayaatka-islaamiga-sawiro/.
