Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA386
2009-11-05 13:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

REPORTED OCTOBER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST

Tags:  ASEC PINR PINS MOPS PGOV PREL ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
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