Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DJIBOUTI513
2008-06-11 07:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
SUBJECT: ONE SHOT FIRED ON DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER
how-toVZCZCXRO6224 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHDJ #0513 1630758 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 110758Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9299 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA IMMEDIATE 2304 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0985 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 0512 RHMFISS/CJTF HOA IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000513
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/E, IO, AND INR/GGI
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2013
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS PHSA ER AU DJ
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: ONE SHOT FIRED ON DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER
REF: A. A. DJIBOUTI 508
B. B. DJIBOUTI 482 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: Classified By: Chargee d'Affaires a.i. Kathleen List for
reasons 1.4 b, d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000513
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/E, IO, AND INR/GGI
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2013
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS PHSA ER AU DJ
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: ONE SHOT FIRED ON DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER
REF: A. A. DJIBOUTI 508
B. B. DJIBOUTI 482 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: Classified By: Chargee d'Affaires a.i. Kathleen List for
reasons 1.4 b, d.
1. (C) ON JUNE 9, CDA MET BRIEFLY WITH FRENCH AMBASSADOR
TO DJIBOUTI DECHERF TO DISCUSS THE FRENCH POSITION ON THE
DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER. DECHERF STATED THAT FRANCE HAD
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE ERITREANS TO REMIND THEM, IF THEY
NEEDED REMINDING, THAT FRANCE HAD A TREATY OBLIGATION TO
PROTECT THE SOVERIGNTY OF DJIBOUTI. HE SAID, CURIOUSLY,
THAT ERITREA HAD NO AGGRESSIVE INTENT AGAINST DJIBOUTI.
2. (C) AT 1415 ON JUNE 10, OUR CONSULAR OFFICER RECEIVED
A CALL FROM A CONTACT IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF DJIBOUTI, WHO
CLAIMED THAT FIGHTING HAD BROKEN OUT ON THE
DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER. CDA CONTACTED DECHERF, WHO
RETURNED THE CALL AT 1430 INDICATING THAT HIS FRENCH
MILITARY HAD REPORTED THAT AN ERITREAN SOLDIER HAD FIRED
ONE SHOT AT AN ERITREAN ATTEMPTING TO DESERT; HE DID NOT
SAY IF THE DESERTER WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN THE EVENT AND
ON WHICH SIDE OF THE BORDER THE EVENT OCCURRED. DECHERF
FURTHER REPORTED THAT CALM HAD NOW RETURNED. OTHER SOURCES
WE CONTACTED HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE BORDER AREA IS
QUIET.
3. (C) COMMENT: DJIBOUTIANS WITH WHOM WE HAVE TALKED IN
THE CAPITAL PLACE THE TENSIONS AT THE BORDER AS THEIR
HIGHEST PREOCCUPATION, PARTICULARLY THE AFAR PEOPLE WHO
SUFFERED SEVERELY IN THIS NORTHERN REGION DURING THE CIVIL
WAR AND STILL WITNESS THE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE DAILY. IT
IS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT, ABSENT FRENCH INTERVENTION, ANY
SERIOUS CONFRONTATION AT THE BORDER BETWEEN THE ERITREAN
AND DJIBOUTIAN MILITARIES WOULD RESULT IN A DEFEAT OF THE
DJIBOUTIANS, WITH THE ERITREANS GAINING CONTROL OF RAS
DOUMEIRA AND FROM WHICH IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO UNSEAT
WITH NEGOTIATION. THIS CONFLICT STANDS IN SHARP CONTRAST
TO THE ROLE OF "HONEST BROKER" THAT DJIBOUTI IS TRYING TO
PLAY IN REGIONAL PEACE TALKS, WITNESS THE SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION TO THE SOMALI PEACE TALKS ON JUNE 9 (SEPTEL).
LIST
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/E, IO, AND INR/GGI
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2013
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS PHSA ER AU DJ
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: ONE SHOT FIRED ON DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER
REF: A. A. DJIBOUTI 508
B. B. DJIBOUTI 482 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: Classified By: Chargee d'Affaires a.i. Kathleen List for
reasons 1.4 b, d.
1. (C) ON JUNE 9, CDA MET BRIEFLY WITH FRENCH AMBASSADOR
TO DJIBOUTI DECHERF TO DISCUSS THE FRENCH POSITION ON THE
DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER. DECHERF STATED THAT FRANCE HAD
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE ERITREANS TO REMIND THEM, IF THEY
NEEDED REMINDING, THAT FRANCE HAD A TREATY OBLIGATION TO
PROTECT THE SOVERIGNTY OF DJIBOUTI. HE SAID, CURIOUSLY,
THAT ERITREA HAD NO AGGRESSIVE INTENT AGAINST DJIBOUTI.
2. (C) AT 1415 ON JUNE 10, OUR CONSULAR OFFICER RECEIVED
A CALL FROM A CONTACT IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF DJIBOUTI, WHO
CLAIMED THAT FIGHTING HAD BROKEN OUT ON THE
DJIBOUTI-ERITREA BORDER. CDA CONTACTED DECHERF, WHO
RETURNED THE CALL AT 1430 INDICATING THAT HIS FRENCH
MILITARY HAD REPORTED THAT AN ERITREAN SOLDIER HAD FIRED
ONE SHOT AT AN ERITREAN ATTEMPTING TO DESERT; HE DID NOT
SAY IF THE DESERTER WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN THE EVENT AND
ON WHICH SIDE OF THE BORDER THE EVENT OCCURRED. DECHERF
FURTHER REPORTED THAT CALM HAD NOW RETURNED. OTHER SOURCES
WE CONTACTED HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE BORDER AREA IS
QUIET.
3. (C) COMMENT: DJIBOUTIANS WITH WHOM WE HAVE TALKED IN
THE CAPITAL PLACE THE TENSIONS AT THE BORDER AS THEIR
HIGHEST PREOCCUPATION, PARTICULARLY THE AFAR PEOPLE WHO
SUFFERED SEVERELY IN THIS NORTHERN REGION DURING THE CIVIL
WAR AND STILL WITNESS THE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE DAILY. IT
IS COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT, ABSENT FRENCH INTERVENTION, ANY
SERIOUS CONFRONTATION AT THE BORDER BETWEEN THE ERITREAN
AND DJIBOUTIAN MILITARIES WOULD RESULT IN A DEFEAT OF THE
DJIBOUTIANS, WITH THE ERITREANS GAINING CONTROL OF RAS
DOUMEIRA AND FROM WHICH IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO UNSEAT
WITH NEGOTIATION. THIS CONFLICT STANDS IN SHARP CONTRAST
TO THE ROLE OF "HONEST BROKER" THAT DJIBOUTI IS TRYING TO
PLAY IN REGIONAL PEACE TALKS, WITNESS THE SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION TO THE SOMALI PEACE TALKS ON JUNE 9 (SEPTEL).
LIST