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.
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Yemen: Al Houthis launch drones toward Saudi Arabia; al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clash in Ma’rib governorate
Horn of Africa: Suspected al Shabaab militants kill district official in Mogadishu; African Union condemns Somali president’s extended mandate
Yemen Security Brief:
The al Houthi movement claimed to launch two Qasef-2K drones at King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait city in southern Saudi Arabia’s Asir region on April 23. Al Houthi militants also claimed to launch a Samad-3 drone at Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jizan city in southern Saudi Arabia’s Jizan region the same day. The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept the two al Houthi drones targeting Khamis Mushait city but did not comment on the alleged al Houthi attack on Jizan city.[i]
The al Houthi movement claimed the Saudi-led coalition launched 16 airstrikes on al Houthi positions along al Masjah front in Sirwah district in central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on April 23. Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces previously clashed along al Masjah front on April 22.[ii]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Suspected al Shabaab militants killed a district council member in Karan district in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on April 22. Al Shabaab killed Daynile district’s commissioner in Mogadishu on April 20.[iii]
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council released a statement condemning the Somali Lower House of Parliament’s extension of the presidential mandate for Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” on April 22. The statement also expressed concern for the unity of Somali security forces over political divisions. Somalia’s Minister of Information accused Kenya and Djibouti of convincing the African Union to reject President Farmajo’s extended term.[iv]
[i] “The battles of Sirwah and the coalition intercepts 3 drones launched by the Houthis on southern Saudi Arabia,” Al Jazeera, April 23, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2021/4/23/%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a8%d8%b5%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ad-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%81-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d8%aa%d8%b1%d8%b6-%d8%ab%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%ab.
[ii] “The battles of Sirwah and the coalition intercepts 3 drones launched by the Houthis on southern Saudi Arabia,” Al Jazeera, April 23, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2021/4/23/%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a8%d8%b5%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ad-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%81-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d8%aa%d8%b1%d8%b6-%d8%ab%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%ab; and “Dozens of Houthis were killed and wounded in violent battles in Marib,” Al Bawaba, April 22, 2021, https://www.albawaba.com/ar/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%85%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8-1423909.
[iii] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Soldiers and lawmakers killed in Mogadishu,” Somalimemo, April 22, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14566/Faah-Faahin-Askar-iyo-xildhibaan-deegaan-oo-Muqdisho-lagu-dilay; and Amelia Frederking and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 21, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 21, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-21-2021.
[iv] “Communique of the 993rd meeting of the PSC held on 22 April 2021, on the political and security situation in Somalia,” African Union Peace and Security Council, April 22, 2021, http://peaceau.org/en/article/communique-of-the-993rd-meeting-of-the-psc-held-on-22-april-2021-on-the-political-and-security-situation-in-somalia; and “Somali government issues stern warning to Kenya, Djibouti,” Radio Dalsan, April 22, 2021, https://www.radiodalsan.com/dowladda-soomaaliya-oo-digniin-culus-u.
