DJIBOUTI-ERITREA: U.S. OFFICERS VISIT RAS DOUMEIRA

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000482

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/E, IO, AND INR/GGI
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA-WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS PHSA
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI-ERITREA: U.S. OFFICERS VISIT RAS DOUMEIRA

REF: A. DJIBOUTI 472

B. DJIBOUTI 449 (AND PREVIOUS)

Classified By: DCM ERIC WONG. REASON: 1.4 (A),(B) AND (D).


1. (S) SUMMARY. A May 27 visit to the disputed
Djibouti-Eritrea border at Ras Doumeira found opposing troops
only meters apart in some areas. Eritrean forces are
reportedly armed with RPGs and heavy machine guns, and are
continuing to construct fortifications on Ras Doumeira.
Approximately 20 Eritrean troops have deserted or defected to
the Djiboutian side of the border, prompting Eritrea to
demand their return and to threaten to detain Djiboutian
soldiers if the defectors are not returned. The military
situation appears to be static, with neither side willing to
back away from the ridgeline. Djiboutian forces along the
border appear to have been deployed there since April without
rotation. On the diplomatic front, France is still awaiting
word from Asmara to send an envoy. Post continues to
recommend strong public statements in international fora in
support of Djibouti and its claims that Eritrea has violated
its territorial sovereignty. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) USLO-Djibouti Chief accompanied two staff directors
from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA)
on a site visit of the disputed Djibouti-Eritrea border at
Ras Doumeira on May 27, from 0830-1100 local time. The USLO
Chief was invited to attend by MAJ Youssef Abdullah, the
Djiboutian liaison officer to CJTF-HOA. The party traveled
via Djibouti Air Force fixed-wing aircraft to Moulhoule (the
site of the Djibouti Army command post),received a briefing,
and then proceeded by ground to the border site,
approximately 15K to the north. All U.S. military personnel
were in civilian clothes.

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ERITREANS ARMED WITH RPGS AND HEAVY MACHINE GUNS
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3. (S) The Djiboutian military's command post is normally a
Djiboutian National Police border and immigration checkpoint,
but the military has assumed complete control of the
facility. The local Djiboutian commander, COL Ali Soubaneh,
and his deputy, LTC Mohamed Robleh (a U.S. Army War College
graduate),briefed the party on the general situation. They
noted that the Djiboutian and Eritrean commanders
communicated with each other, and that while there was some
tension, there had been no open hostility or violence. They
reported that the Eritreans possessed both rocket-propelled
grenade (RPG) launchers and heavy machine guns. LTC Robleh
said he believed that Eritrea possessed, and had the
capability to lay, landmines, although he admitted he had not
seen any emplaced. (COMMENT: U.S. officers saw no/no
evidence to corroborate this unconfirmed assertion relating
to landmines. END COMMENT.)

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ERITREANS DEMAND RETURN OF DEFECTING TROOPS
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4. (S) MAJ Youssef informed USLO Chief that several Eritrean
soldiers had deserted or defected to the Djiboutian side.
Based on earlier reports and information from Djiboutian
officers at the border, the current total is estimated at
15-20. Reportedly, most left their weapons behind, and some
have crossed by swimming along the coast. They have been
debriefed by the Djiboutians and are being held in Obock. An
earlier report indicated that they would be turned over to
the UNHCR (ref A),but there is no indication so far that
this has occurred. Eritrean officers have approached the
Djiboutians and demanded that the soldiers be returned,
threatening to attempt to snatch Djiboutian soldiers if they
are not. (COMMENT: The issue of deserters/defectors could
provide a scenario leading to an escalation to violence. END
COMMENT.)

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ERITREAN AND DJIBOUTIAN TROOPS ONLY METERS APART
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5. (S) Conditions along the Ras Doumeira ridgeline on the
mainland are austere. The Eritreans occupy the east and west

DJIBOUTI 00000482 002 OF 002


sections of the ridgeline, as well as the valley to the
north, while the Djiboutians occupy the center of the
ridgeline to the south. As reported in open sources, in many
cases the forces are separated by no more than a few meters.
In one case, the party, including the Djiboutian commander,
walked down a road leaving Eritrean soldiers between the
party and the main Djiboutian force. Food and water are in
short supply on both sides. There were several small boats
along the northern coast, reportedly providing limited
supplies to the Eritrean troops. The Djiboutians have offered
food to the Eritreans, and it is usually accepted.


6. (S) Both sides have established dug-in fighting positions,
without overhead cover, save burlap to ward off the sun.
There is a built-up trenchline on the east portion of the
ridge that the Eritreans had been building when the
Djiboutians arrived. It is supported by stone masonry and
appears to be designed as a military defensive position.
Djiboutian forces are positioned at its end. Cursory
inspection of Djiboutian weapons showed a hodgepodge of
different small arms in varying condition. One medium
machine gun was in excellent condition, but many individual
weapons showed wear and little maintenance. Several
U.S.-provided Humvees were present.

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DJIBOUTIAN TROOPS, DEPLOYED SINCE APRIL, NOT ROTATED
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7. (C) Separately, French Ambassador to Djibouti, Dominique
Decherf, noted that Djiboutian troops at the border with
Eritrea, at either Ras Doumeira or Doumeira Island, had not
received their monthly wages in April or May. As Djiboutian
troops were usually paid in cash, and then disbursed their
wages to family members, troops deployed at the border had
not been able to collect their wages. Decherf acknowledged
that this indicated that Djiboutian troops at the border with
Eritrea were not being rotated. Decherf said a French envoy
was still prepared to come to the region to facilitate
discussions between Eritrea and Djibouti, but was waiting for
approval from Asmara.


8. (S) COMMENT: The military situation at Ras Doumeira
appears largely static, with neither side willing to back off
the ridgeline. As reported earlier (ref A),the Eritrean
military presence has also extended to Doumeira Island,
claimed by Djibouti as wholly Djiboutian territory. The most
likely scenario for an escalation to violence may be tensions
related to the issue of Eritrean deserters and defectors
fleeing to Djibouti. Another potential flashpoint is the
continued construction by Eritrean troops of fortifications
on Ras Doumeira, using heavy machinery (such as bulldozers).
Neither side is well-supplied, but both seem committed to
maintaining their positions. Post strongly urges public
statements in international fora in support of Djibouti, and
in support of seeking a peaceful resolution to reverse
Eritrea's militarization of the Bab-al-Mandeb strait. END
COMMENT.
SYMINGTON