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: STC and Saudi-led coalition launch competing recruitment efforts in southern Yemen; Houthi deputy foreign minister threatens the Gulf states
Somalia: Al Shabaab IED targets police officers in Mogadishu; al Shabaab raids a Burundian ATMIS base in south-central Somalia; SNA clears villages in central Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi-led coalition and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) launched competing recruitment efforts in southern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition reportedly oversaw recruitment to the coalition-backed Happy Yemen Brigades in Aden, Abyan, and Lahij governorates in southern Yemen on June 10.[i] A commander in the STC-backed Southern Resistance forces said on June 10 that the STC objected to the coalition’s recruitment efforts because the STC believed the Saudi-led Coalition would place the recruits under the command of STC-backed forces.[ii] The STC also launched its own recruitment campaign in Aden and Abyan governorates around June 10.[iii]
The Houthi deputy foreign minister threatened that any further support for the Yemeni government is an “unwise act.” The minister said that “any new adventures in Yemen” would cause “dangerous and confusion repercussions” for Gulf states.[iv]
Somalia Security Brief:
Al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting police officers in Badbaado internally displaced peoples camp, Dharkenley district, Mogadishu, on June 11.[v] Al Shabaab claimed the IED killed seven police officers at a police station. Local officials claimed the IED killed two police officers at a tea shop.
Al Shabaab militants raided a Burundian African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) base in Ilbaq, Balad district, Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia, on June 13.[vi] Al Shabaab claimed they killed two soldiers.
Somali National Army (SNA) and local clan militia forces cleared Bacda and Qabdho villages in Beledweyne district, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on June 13.[vii] SNA officials claimed they killed twelve al Shabaab militants, destroyed their base, and recovered several AK-47s.
[i] Al Mashhad Al Yemeni, “Forming a huge Yemeni military force to carry out special missions,” June 10, 2022, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/233080.
[ii] Al Omana, “The clarification of the leader, Sadiq al Jawi, about the mobilization of the forces of Happy Yemen,” June 10, 2022, https://al-omana.net/news178016.html.
[iii] Al Masdar, “The Transitional Council begins a recruitment campaign in Aden,” June 12, 2022, https://almasdaronline.com/articles/253529.
[iv] Hussein al Ezzi, Twitter, June 11, 2022, https://twitter.com/hussinalezzi5/status/1535572412816838656?s=20&t=vOfFKDNfcmo-v-RUnj3t4Q.
[v] Radio al Furqaan, “Explosion in Mogadishu & attack on officials in Baidoa,” June 11, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/06/faahfaahin-qarax-ka-dhacay-muqdisho-weerar-saraakiil-lagu-dilay-oo-baydhabo-ka-dhacay/ ; Hiiraan Online, “Two explosions kill two people in Somalia a day after president’s inauguration,” June 11, 2022, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2022/Jun/186566/two_explosions_kill_two_people_in_somalia_a_day_after_president_s_inauguration.aspx.
[vi] Somalimemo, “ATMIS soldiers killed in Middle Shabelle region and other news,” June 13, 2022, https://somalimemo.info/articles/16563/Askar-katirsan-ATMIS-oo-lagu-dilay-gobolka-Sh-dhexe-iyo-war-kale.
[vii] Radio Risaala, “Fighting erupts in Hiraan region,” June 13, 2022, https://radiorisaala.com/saraakiil-ka-hadashay-dagaal-ka-dhacay-gobolka-hiiraan-hub-lagu-qabsaday/ ; SONNA, “At least 12 al Shabaab terrorists killed by SNA forces in planned operations,” June 13, 2022, https://sonna.so/en/2022/06/13/at-least-12-al-shabab-terrirists-were-killed-by-the-sna-forces-in-a-planned-operations/.
