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: Leaders from Sheba region meet with Hadi in Aden; al Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee travels to Sa’ada; security forces clash with tribesmen in Ma’rib

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks Presidential Palace with mortars in Mogadishu; suspected al Shabaab shooting in Mandera, Kenya

Yemen Security Brief

  • The governors of Ma’rib and al Jawf met with President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Aden city, Aden on February 26 as part of a delegation from the Sheba region - a historical region of central Yemen that included parts of Ma’rib, al Jawf, and al Bayda. Local leaders from the Sheba region had previously expressed their support for Hadi’s legitimacy.[1]
  • Leaders from the al Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Council traveled from Sana’a to Sa’ada to meet with al Houthi leader Abdul Malik al Houthi on February 25.[2]
  • Security forces clashed with Obeidah tribesmen near Ma’rib city, Ma’rib on February 25. The fighting took place near a natural gas facility and wounded three soldiers.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

  • Al Shabaab attacked Somalia’s presidential palace in Mogadishu with mortars, killing one on February 26. Two mortar shells landed inside the presidential palace compound while three landed outside. Al Shabaab later claimed credit for the attack.[4]
  • Suspected al Shabaab gunmen killed one and wounded two in a shooting in Mandera, North Eastern Province, Kenya on February 25. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.[5]

[1] “Governor of Ma’rib meets with Hadi in Aden,” al Sahwa, February 26, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/subjects.aspx?id=46501
“Governor of Ma’rib meets with Hadi in Aden,” al Masdar, February 26, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/68603
“The arrival of Ma’rib and al Jawf governors to meet with President Hadi,” Aden al Ghad, February 26, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://adenalghad.net/news/151506/#.VO8yxfnF_To
[2] “Al Houthi revolutionary committee travels to Sa’ada,” al Saudi News, February 25, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alsaudinews.com/yemen/86345.html
[3] “Three soldiers guarding natural gas in Ma’rib injured by tribal militants,” Khabar Agency, February 25, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.khabaragency.net/news22412.html
[4] “Mortar barrages target Somalia’s Presidential Compound,” Hiiraan Online, February 26. Available: http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2015/Feb/98359/mortar_barrages_target_somalia_s_presidential_compound.aspx
“Somalia’s al Shabaab say fire mortars at Presidential Palace,” Bar Kulan, February 26. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2015/02/26/somalias-al-shabaab-say-fire-mortars-at-presidential-palace/
[5] Manase Otsialo, “One killed, two injured by gunmen in Mandera attack,” Daily Nation, February 26. Available: http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Mandera-attack-Shabaab-gunmen/-/1107872/2636148/-/kqhllz/-/index.html
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