ERITREA ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL FROM IGAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000397

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL FROM IGAD


Classified By: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) The Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE) announced
on April 21 that it had suspended its membership in the
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development(IGAD). In an
official statement posted on www.shabait.com, the GSE claimed
it was "compelled to take the move due to the fact that a
number of repeated and irresponsible resolutions that
undermine regional peace and security have been adopted in
the guise of IGAD." The GSE further claimed it could "not be
party to developments that hold one accountable both legally
and morally."


2. (C) Andeab Ghebremeskel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Director General for Asia, Pacific and Africa, refused to
take Poloff's call concerning clarification of Eritrea's
position. The Ambassador from the Netherlands, however, was
able to speak with him, although Ghebremeskel merely repeated
the party line that Eritrea will not be part of an
organization whose decisions are politically incomprehensible
and morally indefensible. In a separate conversation with
Poloff, Djiboutian Ambassador Ahmed Issa Gaboebeh said that
the GSE's decision was driven both by IGAD's lack of
involvement in addressing the border problems between
Ethiopia and Eritrea and the differences within IGAD on how
to address the problems of its member state, Somalia.
Gaboebeh further elaborated on GSE allegations that IGAD
members -- namely Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia -- were merely
puppets manipulated by the U.S. He expressed his concern
over the future functionality of IGAD with Eritrea's
withdrawal, as only five functioning states would remain.


3. (C) Comment: The GSE withdrawal from IGAD comes on the
heels of its reportedly adamant opposition to the IGAD
statement on Somalia issued in Nairobi on April 13. The GSE
has fought strenuously against IGAD involvement in Somalia
and regionally has allied itself with Sudan and Djibouti,
although the GSE was the only government which registered its
formal opposition to the IGAD statement. The GSE's position
is part of its constant refrain that Eritrea is morally
superior to others and they are the only ones who follow the
rule of law ) a position that has more holes than a sieve.
By removing itself from regional or international entities
that it cannot force to do its bidding, the GSE avoids being
held accountable by such bodies for its actions. This
eliminates yet another avenue for the international community
to engage with the GSE in any sort of constructive
discussion. End Comment.
DeLisi