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: Saudi-led coalition extends unilateral cease-fire; Hadi government forces accuse STC forces of delaying Riyadh Agreement; UN urges al Houthis to release Baha’i prisoners

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab raids AMISOM base in southern Somalia; al Shabaab attacks KDF in southwestern Somalia; SNA skirmishes with Jubbaland State security forces in southern Somalia; Mozambican opposition party accuses Mozambican security forces of killing civilians in northern Mozambique

Yemen Security Brief:

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al Maliki announced on April 24 a one-month extension of a Saudi unilateral cease-fire in Yemen that expired on April 23. Maliki previously announced a unilateral cease-fire that began on April 9, to prevent the spread of coronavirus and support UN peace efforts in Yemen. The al Houthi movement has not yet accepted a cease-fire.[1]

The internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) forces of delaying the implementation of the November 2019 Riyadh Agreement. A Hadi government statement claimed that STC forces prevented Hadi government forces from returning to Aden in southern Yemen on April 23. Hadi government forces clashed with STC forces in Lahij governorate in southern Yemen in mid-April.[2]

UN officials urged the al Houthi movement on April 23 to implement the release of prisoners jailed for practicing the Baha’i religion and to drop charges against other detainees. An al Houthi official ordered in late March the release of all prisoners in Yemen jailed for practicing Baha’i. The Baha’i faith is a monotheistic religious minority in Yemen that draws upon elements of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Al Shabaab militants detonated two suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices targeting a Ugandan African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) base in Barawe in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on April 24. Al Shabaab claimed the attack marked the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and claimed unspecified AMISOM casualties. Al Shabaab fired mortars targeting the AMISOM base in Barawe in mid-March.[4]

Al Shabaab militants attacked Kenyan Defense Force (KDF) soldiers near Beled Hawo in southwestern Somalia’s Gedo region on April 22. The KDF claimed the attack killed two al Shabaab militants and al Shabaab claimed it killed three KDF soldiers and two civilians. Al Shabaab ambushed an Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) convoy near Luuq in Gedo region in early April.[5]

Somali National Army (SNA) forces exchanged gunfire and rock propelled grenades with Jubbaland State security forces on the Kenyan-Somali border near Somalia’s Beled Hawo and Kenya’s Mandera city in northeastern Kenya on April 22. SNA forces clashed with Jubbaland State security forces in Beled Hawo in early March.[6]

Mozambican opposition party Renamo accused Mozambican security forces on April 23 of killing 14 civilians in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province in three separate incidents in mid-April. Renamo alleged that security forces shot several civilians near Ibo Island, northeast of Mozambique’s coast, on April 12 and 16, respectively, and four civilians in Palma district on an unspecified date. Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi promised to investigate the allegations. A Mozambican police spokesman stated on April 21 that “bandits” killed 52 Mozambican villagers near Muidumbe Cabo Delgado province in early April.[7]


[1] “Saudi-led coalition announces one-month extension of yemen ceasefire,” Reuters, April 24, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/saudi-led-coalition-announces-one-month-extension-of-yemen-ceasefire-idUSKCN2261GS; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 9, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 9, 2020,

https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-9-2020.

[2] “Yemeni government accuses STC of impeding its return to Aden,” Aawsat, April 24, 2020, https://aawsat.com/node/2250386; “Exchange of Accusations between Hadi government and Southern Transitional Council over Riyadh Agreement,” Alalam TV, April 24, 2020, https://www.alalamtv.net/news/4884156; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 14, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 14, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-14-2020.

[3] “UN calls for Yemen rebels to immediately release Bahai prisoners,” The National, April 24, 2020, https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/un-calls-for-yemen-rebels-to-immediately-release-bahai-prisoners-1.1010445; “UN urges for immediate release of Baha’i prisoners in Yemen,” Associated Press, April 23, 2020, https://apnews.com/a4ca96b8e26a027e74a284f0bccdad51; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 26, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 26, 2020,

https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-26-2020.

[4] “Al-Shabaab militants raid AU forces base in southern Somalia,” Garowe, April 24, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/al-shabaab-militants-raid-au-forces-base-in-southern-somalia; “Shabaab Claims 2 Suicide Bombings at Ugandan Base in Barawe in 1st Operation During Ramadan,” SITE Intelligence Group, April 24, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Samuel Bloebaum and Pamela Makadsi, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 12, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 12, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-12-2020.

[5] “KDF kills Al-Shabaab as Jubaland forces clash with FGS troops in Gedo,” Garowe, April 23, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-kdf-kills-al-shabaab-as-jubaland-forces-clash-with-fgs-troops-in-gedo; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 6, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 6, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-6-2020.

[6] “Fear over fresh fighting by Somalia forces near Mandera,” Daily Nation, April 23, 2020, https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/mandera/Fear-over-fresh-fighting-near-Mandera/1183298-5532328-mph2syz/index.html; and Pamela Makadsi and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 2, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 2, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-2-2020.

[7] Alfredo Júnior, “Renamo reports murders. Nyusi admits human rights violation,” Voice of America Portuguese, April 23, 2020, https://www.voaportugues.com/a/cabo-delgado-renamo-denuncia-assassinatos-nyusi-admite-viola%C3%A7%C3%A3o-de-direitos-humanos/5389107.html; “Mozambique army killed 14 civilians in the north: Renamo,” The Citizen, April 24, 2020, https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/Mozambique-army-killed-14-civilians-in-the-north--Renamo/1840386-5533042-m44o2dz/index.html?utm_source=Media+Review+for+April+24,+2020&utm_campaign=Media+Review+for+April+23,+2020&utm_medium=email; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 22, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 22, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-22-2020.

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