Update on the Security Situation in Somalia and Yemen

Gulf of Aden Security Review

July 31, 2014

Yemen: Suspected AQAP militant opens fire on local trader’s house in Hadramawt; tribal gunmen detonate IEDs near oil pipeline in Ma’rib; Yemen officials extradite Saudi affiliates of AQAP

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants attack AMISOM and Jubbaland security forces in Lower Jubba region; AMISOM and SNA forces seize territory from al Shabaab in Bay region; suspected al Shabaab militants kill Somali security officer in Mogadishu

Yemen Security Brief 

A suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militant raided the house of Ahmed Babkair, a local trader, and opened fire in the Mansoura neighborhood of al Shihr, Hadramawt on July 30, wounding Babkair’s son.[1]

Armed tribesmen detonated two improvised explosive devices (IED) near an oil pipeline in the Habab area of Wadi Abida, Ma’rib on July 30.[2]

Yemen authorities extradited to Saudi Arabia eight Saudi nationals, suspected of AQAP affiliation, on July 31. Seven of the detainees were male and one was the wife of a detained member of al Qaeda.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief 

Al Shabaab militants attacked African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Jubbaland security forces near Kismayo, Lower Jubba region on July 30. Jubbaland Administration officials reported that at least ten al Shabaab militants were killed during the confrontation.[4]

AMISOM and Somali National Army (SNA) forces seized Qansadere district on July 30 after al Shabaab militants withdrew from the district. The militants vacated the area without confrontation as AMISOM and SNA forces prepared for an offensive against al Shabaab in the district.[5]

Two suspected al Shabaab militants killed a Somali security officer in Bakara Market in Mogadishu on July 30. Somali security forces, responding to the incident, killed the two suspects as they were fleeing the market. Afterwards, Somali security forces closed the market and conducted a security operation in the surrounding area, detaining an unspecified number of suspects.[6]

[1] “Trader survives assassination attempt in al Shihr although his son receives an injury,” Aden al Ghad, July 31, 2014 [Arabic]. Available:http://adenalghad.net/news/115554/#.U9opgFappuY

[2] “Oil pipeline explodes in Arq area of Wadi Abida, Ma’rib,” Barakish Net, July 30, 2014 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.barakish.net/news.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=140717

“Second explosion targets oil pipeline in Ma’rib,” al Masdar, July 31, 2014 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/60419

[3] “Yemen repatriates 8 Saudi Al-Qaeda suspects,” Daily Star, July 31, 2014. Available: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jul-31/265601-yemen-repatriates-8-saudi-qaeda-suspects.ashx#axzz3945E6n8U

[4] “Fierce violence erupts near Kismayo,” Shabelle News, July 31, 2014. Available: http://shabelle.net/?p=26873

“10 Al Shabaab fighters killed on the outskirts of Kismayo,” Bar Kulan, July 31, 2014. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2014/07/31/10-al-shabaab-fighters-killed-on-the-outskirts-of-kismayo/

[5] “Al-shabab withdrew from Qansaxdhere district in Bay region,” Goobjoog News, July 31, 2014. Available: http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=1913

[6] “Federal government forces shot dead Al-shabab members in Bakara Market,” Goobjoog News, July 31, 2014. Available: http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=1905

“SOMALIA: Security swoop starts parts of Mogadishu including Bakara market,” RBC Radio, July 31, 2014. Available: http://www.raxanreeb.com/2014/07/somalia-security-swoop-starts-parts-of-mogadishu-including-bakara-market/