EXPLOSIONS IN JIJIGA (ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGION)

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002477 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR: DS/IP/AF, AF/E, DS/DSS/ITA, CA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PINS PTER ET SUBJECT: EXPLOSIONS IN JIJIGA (ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGION) ¶1. (U) On August 5, two explosions were reported in Jijiga, capital of Ethiopia's Somali Region, at approximately 1230 p.m.: one at a Protestant church and the other in the "Taiwan" market area. Reported casualties are one killed, eleven injured. ¶2. (U) The following day, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) issued a press release condemning the bombings, denying responsibility, and accusing the Government of Ethiopia of responsibility for these incidents as a means to justify "war crimes" against the Ogadeni people. Though it is widely speculated by the public that the ONLF did indeed set the bombs give the targets. ¶3. (U) Due to the non-permissive security environment throughout the Ogaden region, post already has a policy restricting official and personal travel by mission personnel to this region. Ethiopia's consular information sheet also cautions American citizens not to travel in this region due to a non-permissive security environment. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is difficult to determine who placed or is responsible for these bombings. Jijiga has been the location of previous grenade attacks recently, including an attack in late May that wounded the Somali Region President (i.e., governor). In each case, the GOE attributed the attack to the ONLF, while the ONLF denied responsibility. Post will report further developments if/when additional information is available. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO