Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA531
2008-11-04 11:19:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREAN GOVERNMENT FEARS OF AL QAEDA POTENTIAL IN
how-toR 041119Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9988 INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA AMEMBASSY DJIBDUDI RUEHQOQAMEMBASSY LONDON 1659 AMEMBASSY PARIS CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL CIA WASHDC CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ COMUSNAVCENT DIA WASHDC JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC
S E C R E T ASMARA 000531
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR,
AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2028
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV ER DJ
SUBJECT: ERITREAN GOVERNMENT FEARS OF AL QAEDA POTENTIAL IN
DJIBOUTI
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
S E C R E T ASMARA 000531
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR,
AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2028
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV ER DJ
SUBJECT: ERITREAN GOVERNMENT FEARS OF AL QAEDA POTENTIAL IN
DJIBOUTI
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (S/NF) Eritrean Minister of Defense Sebhat Ephrem told
the French ambassador he was concerned about the possibility
that Al Qaeda could establish a presence in Djibouti. He
cited five factors he thought made Djibouti vulnerable to
Islamist extremism: 1) Djibouti's proximity to Yemen; 2) its
large foreign, particularly Arab, population; 3) high level
of corruption among government officials; 4) the presence of
two foreign military powers; and 5) the highly skewed income
disparity. The French Ambassador relayed this information to
RSO at the October 31 European Union contingency planning
meeting. At this same meeting, a representative from the
French Service de Securite Interieure, who is based in
Djibouti, told RSO the Djiboutian government was concerned
about the possibility of terrorist attacks occurring in
Djibouti, but did not provide any additional information.
2. (S/NF) Comment: Despite increased reports of the
Eritrean government providing material support to Al-Shabaab
in Somalia, the Eritrean government fears the possibility of
Islamic extremism in Eritrea and the threat it would pose to
the Isaias regime.
MCMULLEN
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR,
AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2028
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV ER DJ
SUBJECT: ERITREAN GOVERNMENT FEARS OF AL QAEDA POTENTIAL IN
DJIBOUTI
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (S/NF) Eritrean Minister of Defense Sebhat Ephrem told
the French ambassador he was concerned about the possibility
that Al Qaeda could establish a presence in Djibouti. He
cited five factors he thought made Djibouti vulnerable to
Islamist extremism: 1) Djibouti's proximity to Yemen; 2) its
large foreign, particularly Arab, population; 3) high level
of corruption among government officials; 4) the presence of
two foreign military powers; and 5) the highly skewed income
disparity. The French Ambassador relayed this information to
RSO at the October 31 European Union contingency planning
meeting. At this same meeting, a representative from the
French Service de Securite Interieure, who is based in
Djibouti, told RSO the Djiboutian government was concerned
about the possibility of terrorist attacks occurring in
Djibouti, but did not provide any additional information.
2. (S/NF) Comment: Despite increased reports of the
Eritrean government providing material support to Al-Shabaab
in Somalia, the Eritrean government fears the possibility of
Islamic extremism in Eritrea and the threat it would pose to
the Isaias regime.
MCMULLEN