Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DJIBOUTI531
2008-06-18 15:06:00
SECRET
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
DJIBOUTI: FRENCH REPORT CALM ON BORDER
how-toVZCZCXRO2465 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDJ #0531 1701506 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 181506Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9318 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 000531
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/EX
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2023
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS PHSA AU ER DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: FRENCH REPORT CALM ON BORDER
REF: DJIBOUTI 521 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: CHARGEE D'AFFAIRES KATHLEEN LIST FOR
REASONS 1.4 B, D.
S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 000531
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/EX
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2023
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS PHSA AU ER DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: FRENCH REPORT CALM ON BORDER
REF: DJIBOUTI 521 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: CHARGEE D'AFFAIRES KATHLEEN LIST FOR
REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (C) CDA stopped by to see French Ambassador Dominique
Decherf the afternoon of June 18 en route to the Maritime
Safety and Security Conference being sponsored by CJTF-HOA.
While discussing the mostly non-credible rumors floating
around the capital, the Ambassador received a call from
Brigadier General Philippe Lefort, leader of the French
forces in Djibouti. He said a report from a just-concluded
French reconnaissance mission along the border indicated
everything was calm, although there were some indications
that some Eritrean troops may have pulled back "somewhat" in
preparation for a Djiboutian counterattack (deemed highly
unlikely). The Ambassador noted that the whole confrontation
would have been avoided had the opposing forces not been
sitting nose-to-nose (as photographed by the NY Times) on the
disputed land, and added that the French are actively
encouraging diplomacy with the Government of Djibouti as the
solution.
2. (S) Despite incendiary quotes in the government's
propaganda tool La Nation citing the Djiboutian President,
Decherf noted President Guelleh had issued only one statement
at Bouffard Hospital after visiting wounded soldiers after
the initial fighting. The next scheduled statement will be
Guelleh's commentary on National Day, June 27, at the
Presidential Palace. Decherf says Guelleh is a cautious,
experienced politician, unlikely to be swayed by proponents
of radical responses to Eritrean aggression within the
Djiboutian government. Decherf said it was rumored at the
highest level that Guelleh was the person to order Djiboutian
troops to withdraw from the contested ridge, in the interest
of calming the situation down.
LIST
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/EX
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2023
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS PHSA AU ER DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: FRENCH REPORT CALM ON BORDER
REF: DJIBOUTI 521 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: CHARGEE D'AFFAIRES KATHLEEN LIST FOR
REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (C) CDA stopped by to see French Ambassador Dominique
Decherf the afternoon of June 18 en route to the Maritime
Safety and Security Conference being sponsored by CJTF-HOA.
While discussing the mostly non-credible rumors floating
around the capital, the Ambassador received a call from
Brigadier General Philippe Lefort, leader of the French
forces in Djibouti. He said a report from a just-concluded
French reconnaissance mission along the border indicated
everything was calm, although there were some indications
that some Eritrean troops may have pulled back "somewhat" in
preparation for a Djiboutian counterattack (deemed highly
unlikely). The Ambassador noted that the whole confrontation
would have been avoided had the opposing forces not been
sitting nose-to-nose (as photographed by the NY Times) on the
disputed land, and added that the French are actively
encouraging diplomacy with the Government of Djibouti as the
solution.
2. (S) Despite incendiary quotes in the government's
propaganda tool La Nation citing the Djiboutian President,
Decherf noted President Guelleh had issued only one statement
at Bouffard Hospital after visiting wounded soldiers after
the initial fighting. The next scheduled statement will be
Guelleh's commentary on National Day, June 27, at the
Presidential Palace. Decherf says Guelleh is a cautious,
experienced politician, unlikely to be swayed by proponents
of radical responses to Eritrean aggression within the
Djiboutian government. Decherf said it was rumored at the
highest level that Guelleh was the person to order Djiboutian
troops to withdraw from the contested ridge, in the interest
of calming the situation down.
LIST