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: Presidential Protective Forces deploy to Dhaleh governorate; Saudi-led coalition conducts airstrikes in Sa’ada governorate
Horn of Africa: Galmudug President leaves Garowe summit in protest; Somali police officer kills rickshaw driver in Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief
Two Presidential Protective Force brigades deployed from in southern Yemen to the frontlines in in Dhaleh governorate in central Yemen on May 6. President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi ordered the 2nd Presidential Guard Brigade and 3rd Infantry Brigade to reinforce Emirati-backed Yemeni forces fighting against al Houthi forces on the front. Presidential Protection Forces clashed with the Hadi government-aligned 33rd Armored Brigade and Emirati-backed al Hizam Security Forces upon arriving in Qataba on May 8.[1]
The Saudi-led coalition conducted multiple airstrikes targeting al Houthi forces along the front in and districts in Sa’ada governorate in northern Yemen on May 8.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Galmudug state president Ahmed Dualle Gelle left a summit between the Somali Federal Government (SFG) and Somalia’s Federal Member States in the Puntland capital on May 7. Gelle left after getting into an argument with SFG President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni is hosting the summit, which began on May 3, in order to resolve disputes between the Federal Member States and SFG. [3]
A Somali police officer killed a motorized rickshaw driver in Trabunka junction in the Somali capital Mogadishu on May 8. Somali police arrested the officer shortly after the killing. Protests broke out in Mogadishu in April over the frequent police killings of rickshaw drivers, whom police often suspect of facilitating al Shabaab operations.[4]
[1] “The arrest of al Kabsi and the brigades of presidential protection advance in the north… Hadi changes the balance of the battle in Dhaleh and the Houthis break down,” Mareb Press, May 8, 2019, https://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=150920; “Dhaleh, Houthi elements killed in clashes with the national army in Qa’atabah district,” al Wahdawi Net, May 8, 2019, http://www.alwahdawi.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=20513; and “Clashes between the forces of presidential protection and troops of the 33rd Armored Brigade and the Security Belt in Dhaleh,” Bawabatii, May 8, 2019, https://www.bawabatii.com/news242303.html.
[2] “Coalition fighters targeting Houthi strongholds in Sa’ada,” Aden Lng, May 8, 2019, http://adnlng.info/news/117500/.
[3] “Optimism mounts as talks in Somalia enter 4th day,” Garowe, May 8, 2019, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/optimism-mounts-as-talks-in-somalia-enter-4th-day.
[4] “Yet again, police officer guns down bajaj driver in Mogadishu,” Goobjoog, May 8, 2019, http://goobjoog.com/english/yet-again-police-officer-guns-down-bajaj-driver-in-mogadishu/; and Harun Maruf, Twitter, May 8, 2019, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1126097612388564993.
