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