Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA951
2007-12-14 06:03:00
SECRET
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
GSE FEARS OF INSURGENT ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN ERITREA
how-toVZCZCXRO1653 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0951 3480603 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 140603Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9335 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1553 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1731 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
S E C R E T ASMARA 000951
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER ASEC ER
SUBJECT: GSE FEARS OF INSURGENT ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN ERITREA
Classified By: AMB Ronald K. McMullen, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
S E C R E T ASMARA 000951
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER ASEC ER
SUBJECT: GSE FEARS OF INSURGENT ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN ERITREA
Classified By: AMB Ronald K. McMullen, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (S) An Eritrean employee of a mining company recently
traveled on business to Zara, located approximately 120
kilometers north of Keren. Provided by the Eritrean military
with an armed convoy, the employee reported a tense and
nerve-wracking journey due to the fear of insurgent attacks.
The traveler noted that the convoy did not travel after four
o,clock in the afternoon. The traveler was quite scared and
reported that the extent of the military,s tension
concerning potential attacks was a revelation.
2. (C) The traveler stated that Eritreans generally refer to
insurgents in this area as the &Fifth Column,8 a likely
misnomer, as the group is reported to be a domestic anti-GSE
insurgent organization, possibly an offshoot of the
pre-independence Eritrean Liberation Front. They reportedly
operate in northern Eritrea (allegedly in the past with the
support of Sudan),using guerilla tactics, with small groups
of two or three individuals attacking vehicles traveling
through the region. In contrast, the GSE officially
describes insurgents in Eritrea,s northern region as fanatic
fundamentalists engaged in jihad and not affiliated with the
ELF. While information on the security situation in the
North remains murky, the Eritrean military clearly finds the
threat of insurgents serious enough to provide armed escort
to the region for travelers of particular GSE interest.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER ASEC ER
SUBJECT: GSE FEARS OF INSURGENT ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN ERITREA
Classified By: AMB Ronald K. McMullen, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (S) An Eritrean employee of a mining company recently
traveled on business to Zara, located approximately 120
kilometers north of Keren. Provided by the Eritrean military
with an armed convoy, the employee reported a tense and
nerve-wracking journey due to the fear of insurgent attacks.
The traveler noted that the convoy did not travel after four
o,clock in the afternoon. The traveler was quite scared and
reported that the extent of the military,s tension
concerning potential attacks was a revelation.
2. (C) The traveler stated that Eritreans generally refer to
insurgents in this area as the &Fifth Column,8 a likely
misnomer, as the group is reported to be a domestic anti-GSE
insurgent organization, possibly an offshoot of the
pre-independence Eritrean Liberation Front. They reportedly
operate in northern Eritrea (allegedly in the past with the
support of Sudan),using guerilla tactics, with small groups
of two or three individuals attacking vehicles traveling
through the region. In contrast, the GSE officially
describes insurgents in Eritrea,s northern region as fanatic
fundamentalists engaged in jihad and not affiliated with the
ELF. While information on the security situation in the
North remains murky, the Eritrean military clearly finds the
threat of insurgents serious enough to provide armed escort
to the region for travelers of particular GSE interest.
MCMULLEN