ETHNIC AFAR OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACK ON GSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000888 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR ER SUBJECT: ETHNIC AFAR OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACK ON GSE REF: 231218Z NOV 05 ASMARA Classified By: AMB Scott H. Delisi, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) On September 30, individuals claiming to be members of the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization(RSADO) reportedly carried out an attack against an Eritrean naval facility on the island of Haleb a few kilometers offshore from the Eritrean Port of Assab. Post obtained from www.mesel-biherat.com a document entitled RSADO military communique No. 1, taking credit for a &serious and devastating operation against the PFDJ,s institution in Haleb8. (Full text of communique in para 6.) According to this report, the attack occurred at a former shipyard now used as an Eritrean naval base and storage facility. ¶2. (U) The Afar, also called the Dankils, are one of nine ethnic groups of Eritrea and live in the southern Red Sea region. Predominantly Muslim, the Afar people live also in Djibouti and Ethiopia. Many of them are herders and fisherman, while some participate in regional trade to support the black market. Ethnic affiliation is strong for the Afar people, and an ethnic cohesiveness among the Afar crosses the borders between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Many Afar prioritize their ethnicity ahead of their nationality. The Sultan of the Afar resides in the Assab area and has met in the past with foreigners. The Afar have a wobbly relationship with the GSE. Isolated geographically in a desolate and dry region of the country, the provision of services by the GSE to the Afar is reportedly less than in other regions of the country. ¶3. (U) The Afar RSADO group, according to information published on the internet, is not a separatist organization. They identify themselves as Eritrean nationalists who, as federalists, support the right to secession. In existence since at least 2001, RSADO wish to remain part of Eritrea as long as this decision is made democratically and with democratic freedoms provided. Against Ethiopian colonization, the Red Sea Afar people supported the referendum to separate Eritrea from Ethiopia despite a history of resisting the Eritrean People,s Liberation Front(EPLF) - now PFDJ - and their methods. RSADO reportedly joined the Eritrean National Alliance (now the Eritrean Democratic Alliance) in 2002 during the fifth meeting of the Alliance. ¶4. (C) Another known Afar opposition organization, the Afar Federal Alliance (AFA) was founded in 2003. Sharing the federalist position of RSADO, the AFA have been more open in their efforts in the Southern Red Sea Area. UNMEE Human Rights Officer Mamadi Diakite (protect) shared with Poloff that GSE concerns about the operations of this organization have resulted in every Afar-run trade convoy to Djibouti(and even to Ethiopia) being accompanied by a GSE intelligence officer. Post has heard reports alleging that the Ethiopians, namely the TPLF, playing on ethnic cohesiveness of the Afar and the ties with the Afar population in Ethiopia, have established a splinter organization, the Afar Federal Movement, to advocate for the TPLF agenda and overthrow of the GSE. ¶5. (C) Comment: Ethnic tensions in Eritrea, despite the GSE,s propaganda to the contrary, simmer beneath the surface. In the western region of Gash Barka, the Kunama ethnic group has been fighting a low-level insurgency for the past few years. In October 2005, Afar tribesman clashed with Eritrean troops and there continue to be rumors of other clashes that are believed to be essentially &homegrown.8 While we have been unable to confirm that the RSADO,s attack occurred, we understand that there are some independent reports of an incident of some sort at or near Haleb. If the RSADO,s claim is true, then we would expect that the GSE will react strongly to this challenge to its authority and respond with an intensified effort to ensure its unquestioned control in the area. End Comment. ¶6. (U) Text of the English translation of the RADSO military communiqu as posted at www.mesel-biharat regarding the incidents follows. Begin Text Military Communique No. 01 Gallant liberation fighters and intelligence squad of Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization(RADSO) have accomplished a serious and devastating operation against PFDJ,s institution in Haleb as desert in southern administrative region of Afar. The successfully carried operation has taken place on 30/09/2006. There a store of ammunition was set ablaze and burnt for 5 solid days. Number of small boats and ships were also burned. The said military operation with its utmost and devastating consequence has pondered a great threat and shock to the PFDJ,s regime. Haleb, where the operation has taken place is an Island constructed and meant for assembling and production of boats and ships at the era of the Derg regime. After the doom of the later, the regime of Isaias Afeworki too has elevated that institution to the level of ammunition storage for naval base, assembling and production of boats and ships. The vanguard organization of the Red Sea Afar (RSADO) has confirmed its commitment to intensify its operation till the doom of the oppressive regime. Mean while, that vanguard organization still has called the Eritrean people to rally around democratic and national political forces to topple the current inhumane regime of Isaias Afwerki. Propaganda Office of Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) 18/10/2006 End text. DELISI