Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Outlaws sever cable in Abyan province; weekly sit-in held in "Freedom Square" to demand rights; commencement of food and humanitarian aid deliveries to al-Ehsa camp

Horn of Africa: Al-Shabaab and Hizb al-Islam militants clash in Mogadishu; AU denies shelling of Bakara Market; Taliban fighters from Yemen reportedly join al-Shabaab; Interpol declares Somali piracy "organized crime"

Yemen Security Brief

• Outlaws sever a fiber optic cable in the southern Abyan province, cutting off all telecommunications within Abyan and Aden.� An official security source reports that technicians are repairing the cable to renew telecommunication service to the two provinces.[1]

• During a weekly sit-in held in "Freedom Square," hundreds of journalists and other activists protested in front of the cabinet demanding rights.� The opposition party is asking the ruling party to step down because of unjust measures and widespread corruption.[2]

• Food and humanitarian aid was delivered to al-Ehsa camp from the World Food Program to be distributed to the displaced persons in the Sa'ada district.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al-Shabaab and Hizb al-Islam militants fought each other in the Yaqshid district of Mogadishu.� Residents report that Hizb al-Islam attacked the police station, which is an al-Shabaab base.� This is the first time that the two Islamist groups have openly clashed in Mogadishu.[4]

• A mortar shell fell on Bakara Market, the largest market in Mogadishu, killing five and wounding six others.� Allegations that the shell came from one of the African Union bases in Mogadishu were denied by an AU spokesman.[5]

• There are reports that Taliban fighters from Yemen are joining al-Shabaab in Somalia.� Sheikh Ahmed Abu Yasir, a member of al-Shabaab, said that they must take all necessary steps to unite the two groups because they have the same objectives.[6]

• Interpol released a report describing Somali pirate operations as "organized crime." �In addition, Interpol noted that the pirates have acquired sophisticated weapons and tracking devices, allowing them to extend their reach offshore as far as 1,200 nautical miles. �According to the report, Somali pirates only receive about $10,000 each from ransom payments, suggesting that someone behind the pirates receives the majority of the payment.[7]

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