Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA386
2009-11-05 13:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
REPORTED OCTOBER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST
VZCZCXYZ0007 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAE #0386 3091316 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051316Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0580 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 6310 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 3166 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1711 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1886 RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCXONI/ONI WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000386
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
AF/RSA, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2029
TAGS: ASEC PINR PINS MOPS PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: REPORTED OCTOBER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST
PRESIDENT ISAIAS
REF: ASMARA 273
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000386
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
AF/RSA, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2029
TAGS: ASEC PINR PINS MOPS PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: REPORTED OCTOBER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST
PRESIDENT ISAIAS
REF: ASMARA 273
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) On 10/28/09 President Isaias narrowly missed being
killed in an IED attack east of Barentu, according to a
reliable embassy source. The source told RSO that Isaias
visited a micro-dam project in Tessesnei and then traveled
east in a motorcade to Keren. Outside of Barentu, an IED
exploded, killing three soldiers in the lead vehicle. The
attack left Isaias' vehicle (the second car in the convoy)
unharmed. The embassy source stated the IED was planted by
disgruntled elements of the Eritrean military. Ethnic
Kunamas, the main source of violence in the region, were not
implicated. The source stated his girlfriend's brother was
one of the soldiers killed in the lead vehicle.
2. (C) The embassy source also stated there is growing
disenchantment within the Eritrean government (GSE) and the
military. Muslim Eritrean officials are upset at being
marginalized by the majority Christian Tigrinya speaking
makeup of the GSE. An increasing number of high ranking
military officers are frustrated over the suffering caused by
the policies of the Isaias administration.
3. (C) Post Comments: This report has not been corroborated
or reported in the Eritrean media. A separate assassination
attempt against Isaias by an Eritrean soldier was reported in
08/2009 (Reftel). Post continues to hear reports of growing
anger over Eritrean government policies by the military and
other elements of Eritrean society.
McMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
AF/RSA, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2029
TAGS: ASEC PINR PINS MOPS PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: REPORTED OCTOBER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST
PRESIDENT ISAIAS
REF: ASMARA 273
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) On 10/28/09 President Isaias narrowly missed being
killed in an IED attack east of Barentu, according to a
reliable embassy source. The source told RSO that Isaias
visited a micro-dam project in Tessesnei and then traveled
east in a motorcade to Keren. Outside of Barentu, an IED
exploded, killing three soldiers in the lead vehicle. The
attack left Isaias' vehicle (the second car in the convoy)
unharmed. The embassy source stated the IED was planted by
disgruntled elements of the Eritrean military. Ethnic
Kunamas, the main source of violence in the region, were not
implicated. The source stated his girlfriend's brother was
one of the soldiers killed in the lead vehicle.
2. (C) The embassy source also stated there is growing
disenchantment within the Eritrean government (GSE) and the
military. Muslim Eritrean officials are upset at being
marginalized by the majority Christian Tigrinya speaking
makeup of the GSE. An increasing number of high ranking
military officers are frustrated over the suffering caused by
the policies of the Isaias administration.
3. (C) Post Comments: This report has not been corroborated
or reported in the Eritrean media. A separate assassination
attempt against Isaias by an Eritrean soldier was reported in
08/2009 (Reftel). Post continues to hear reports of growing
anger over Eritrean government policies by the military and
other elements of Eritrean society.
McMULLEN