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: Anti–al Houthi forces reportedly repell al Houthi militants in Ma’rib governorate; Saudi-led coalition airstrikes kill al Houthi militants in Sa’ada governorate
Horn of Africa: Suspected al Shabaab militants abduct non-Muslim bus passengers in northern Kenya; al Shabaab targets base housing NISA officials in Hiraan region; al Shabaab executes civilian accused of sorcery in Middle Jubba region; Somali Parliament appoints new prime minister
Yemen Security Brief:
Anti–al Houthi forces, including forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and local tribesmen allegedly repelled al Houthi militants from Rahba in northern Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on September 24. Saudi-led coalition forces targeted al Houthi militants with airstrikes in Ma’rib governorate on September 20.[1]
Saudi-led coalition forces launched airstrikes targeting al Houthi militants in Kataf district in northern Yemen’s Sa’ada governorate on September 24. The airstrike reportedly killed six al Houthi militants. Anti–al Houthi forces claimed control of al Houthi–held areas in Kataf district in late June.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Suspected al Shabaab militants abducted three non-Muslim civilians from a commercial bus in northeastern Kenya’s Mandera County on September 23. Kenyan Defense Forces killed five al Shabaab militants in Mandera County on September 21.[3]
Al Shabaab militants fired mortar targeting a base housing Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency officials near Beledweyne town in central Somalia’s Hiraan region on September 23. The attack wounded three Somali soldiers. Al Shabaab killed the leader of an anti–al Shabaab militia in Beledweyne town in mid-September.[4]
Al Shabaab executed a civilian accused of practicing sorcery in Jilib town in Somalia’s Middle Jubba region on September 24. A US Africa Command airstrike killed an al Shabaab commander in Middle Jubba region in late August.[5]
Somalia’s Parliament appointed a new prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, on September 23. Roble replaced former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire. The parliament ousted Khaire in July in a no-confidence vote.[6]
[1] “Supported by tribesman joint forces storm the first areas of southern Ma’rib,” 7adramout, September 25, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/aden-time/7496055/%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%85-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D9%85%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8.html; “Army forces and tribesmen make progress on the southern fronts of Ma’rib,” Khabar Agency, Khabar Agency, September 25, 2020, https://www.khabaragency.net/news132784.html; and Rahma Bayrakdar and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 21, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 21, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-21-2020.
[2] “Six Houthis were killed and a vehicle destroyed by airstrikes on Sa’ada governorate,” Khabar Agency, September 25, 2020, https://www.khabaragency.net/news132787.html; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 29, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 29, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-29-2020.
[3] “Three non-locals kidnapped by suspected Shabaab in Mandera,” Hiiraan, September 25, 2020, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/Sept/180081/three_non_locals_kidnapped_by_suspected_shabaab_in_mandera.aspx; Tom Odula, “Suspected extremists abduct 3 non-Muslims in Kenya’s north,” Associated Press, September 24, 2020, https://apnews.com/article/kenya-archive-nairobi-somalia-b8c11798c6841433792b48cdc39770f6?utm_source=Media+Review+for+September+25%2C+2020&utm_campaign=Media+Review+for+September+25%2C+2020&utm_medium=email; and Rahma Bayrakdar and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 23, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 23, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-23-2020/.
[4] “Al-Shabaab militants attack intelligence base in central Somalia,” Garowe, September 24, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/al-shabaab-militants-attack-intelligence-base-in-central-somalia; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 16, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 16, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-16-2020.
[5] “Somali militants execute man suspected of witchcraft,” Mareeg, September 24, 2020, https://mareeg.com/somali-militants-execute-man-suspected-of-witchcraft/; “Shabaab executes man accused of sorcery in Jilib,” Hiiraan, September 24, 2020, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/Sept/180072/shabaab_execute_man_accused_of_sorcery_in_jilib.aspx; and Rahma Bayrakdar and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 9, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 9, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-9-2020.
[6] “Somalia Parliament Approves New Prime Minister,” Voice of America, September 24, 2020, https://www.voanews.com/africa/somalia-parliament-approves-new-prime-minister; Mohammed Omar Ahmed and Mohamed Sheikh Nor, “Somalia’s Lawmakers Approve Roble as New Prime Minister,” Bloomberg, September 23, 2020, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-23/somalia-s-lawmakers-approves-roble-as-new-prime-minister?srnd=premium-africa&utm_source=Media+Review+for+September+24%2C+2020&utm_campaign=Media+Review+for+September+23%2C+2020&utm_medium=email; and Samuel Bloebaum and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-27-2020.
