Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA392
2009-11-10 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

ISAIAS ORDERS ERITREA/SUDAN BORDER TIGHTENED

Tags:  MOPS PREL PGOV PREF SU ER 
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RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAE #0392 3140953
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 100953Z NOV 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0591
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000392 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/RSA
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: MOPS PREL PGOV PREF SU ER
SUBJECT: ISAIAS ORDERS ERITREA/SUDAN BORDER TIGHTENED

REF: A. ASMARA 196

B. ASMARA 391

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000392

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/RSA
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: MOPS PREL PGOV PREF SU ER
SUBJECT: ISAIAS ORDERS ERITREA/SUDAN BORDER TIGHTENED

REF: A. ASMARA 196

B. ASMARA 391

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) President Isaias, upset at the high number of
Eritreans illegaly leaving the country, ordered Major General
Gerezgiher "Wuchu" Andemariam to tighten the Eritrea-Sudan
border, according to an embassy source. Wuchu, who formerly
was in charge of the Zoba Makael region, where Asmara is
located, was transferred to command of the Eritrea-Sudan
border area in 2008. Since then, the number of Eritreans
fleeing the country through the porous border has
approximately doubled, according to UNHCR (Refel A). Local
sources who are contemplating fleeing have also stated that
the military is the primary conduit for arranging escape from
the country, with military vehicles often being the source of
transportation.


2. (C) In recent weeks, President Isaias has downplayed the
severity of the youth flight from Eritrea. In an October 25
interview with Reuters, he stated that Eritreans were merely
"going on a picnic" and would soon return. In previous
interviews he attributed the high number of fleeing Eritreans
either to CIA operations or falsified information.
Nonetheless, the number of those illegally leaving the
country each year remains one of the highest in the world.


3. (C) COMMENT: President Isaias' command to tighten the
border demonstrates that he is keenly aware of the large
number of Eritrean youth fleeing each year. It is also
likely that he knows the military plays a large role in the
smuggling operations. Over half of the most recent class of
Sawa (the military training facility a few miles east of the
Sudan border) reportedly fled the country (Ref B),another
factor which undoubtedly weighs heavily on the president. As
the number of youth leaving the country continues to
increase, the Eritrean government will likely take further
measures to stem the illegal outflow of its citizens.
McMULLEN