Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA102
2008-02-27 12:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
UPDATE: MURDER OF ERITREAN BUSINESSMAN FIKRE
how-toVZCZCXRO8464 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0102 0581226 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 271226Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9482 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCRM ER
SUBJECT: UPDATE: MURDER OF ERITREAN BUSINESSMAN FIKRE
REF: A. 07 ASMARA 821
B. 07 ASMARA 838
C. 07 ASMARA 850
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCRM ER
SUBJECT: UPDATE: MURDER OF ERITREAN BUSINESSMAN FIKRE
REF: A. 07 ASMARA 821
B. 07 ASMARA 838
C. 07 ASMARA 850
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) A mid-ranking Eritrean National Security Agency (ANS)
officer told Emboff how Eritrean businessman Fikremariam
Andemariam (Fikre) had been murdered in jail in October 2007,
a crime which prompted the later assassination attempt on the
Deputy Chief of the ANS overseeing the investigation into the
murder. According to the ANS source, one of Fikre's business
competitors known as Samson, "the civilian general," also
engaged with senior military officers in lucrative illegal
business ventures, poisoned Fikre while visiting him in jail.
2. (C) Despite Fikre being under heavy guard with access
restricted to only a few high Government of the State of
Eritrea (GSE) officials, Samson was able to gain access to
Fikre by means of a letter from Major General Gerezgheir
Andemariam (Wuchu),Commander of Operation Area 2 near
Barentu and "business" partner with Samson. The signed
letter from Wuchu both explains the speed with which the ANS
was able to identify, track down, and eventually kill Samson
and early rumors of Wuchu's involvement in the crime.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCRM ER
SUBJECT: UPDATE: MURDER OF ERITREAN BUSINESSMAN FIKRE
REF: A. 07 ASMARA 821
B. 07 ASMARA 838
C. 07 ASMARA 850
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) A mid-ranking Eritrean National Security Agency (ANS)
officer told Emboff how Eritrean businessman Fikremariam
Andemariam (Fikre) had been murdered in jail in October 2007,
a crime which prompted the later assassination attempt on the
Deputy Chief of the ANS overseeing the investigation into the
murder. According to the ANS source, one of Fikre's business
competitors known as Samson, "the civilian general," also
engaged with senior military officers in lucrative illegal
business ventures, poisoned Fikre while visiting him in jail.
2. (C) Despite Fikre being under heavy guard with access
restricted to only a few high Government of the State of
Eritrea (GSE) officials, Samson was able to gain access to
Fikre by means of a letter from Major General Gerezgheir
Andemariam (Wuchu),Commander of Operation Area 2 near
Barentu and "business" partner with Samson. The signed
letter from Wuchu both explains the speed with which the ANS
was able to identify, track down, and eventually kill Samson
and early rumors of Wuchu's involvement in the crime.
MCMULLEN