ERITREAN OFFICER DEFECTS ACROSS DJIBOUTI BORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001011

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019
TAGS: DJ ER MOPS PBTS PREL
SUBJECT: ERITREAN OFFICER DEFECTS ACROSS DJIBOUTI BORDER

REF: DJIBOUTI 1000

Classified By: Amb. J. Swan for reasons 1.4(b)(d).


1. (C) Embassy Djibouti received reports of an incident on
the Djibouti/Eritrea Border on December 15, 2008. At
approximately 0930, an Eritrean officer (specific rank
unknown) accompanied by several troops, defected to the
Djibouti side in the area of Dadda'to, approximately 60
kilimeters southwest of Ras Doumeira. In fact-to-face
communication with Djiboutian troops, local Eritrean forces
threatened to "take action" if he were not returned.
Djiboutian government officials reported that the situation
appeared tense but stable and that they did not intend to
return the Eritrean officer, who was in the custody of the
Djiboutian Armed Forces.


2. (C) Colonel Abdurahman Cher, the on-site Djiboutian
military commander, reached at his headquarters in Moulhoule
at 1900 hours on December 15, indicated that the situation
was stable and calm, but military forces in the northern
sector remained on high alert. Armed Forces leadership met
December 15 for a highly unusual evening meeting, reflecting
their concern over the incident.


3. (C) Comment: The Djiboutians were initially spun up
over this incident, perhaps because it is reminiscent of the
events of June 10, 2008, when Djiboutian refusal to return
Eritrean defectors led to a thirty-six-hour-long border
skirmish that resulted in an estimated 70 Djiboutian deaths
and an unknown number of Eritrean casualties. While we
continue to seek further details, by late afternoon December
16 Djiboutian security contacts appeared less concerned that
this incident would lead to new conflict. There has been no
cross-border violence since June (reftel).
SWAN