DJIBOUTI: FONMIN REPORTS MORE ERITREAN PLOTTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000031 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/13 TAGS: PREL PINS DJ ER SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: FONMIN REPORTS MORE ERITREAN PLOTTING REF: 09 DJIBOUTI 380; 10 DJIBOUTI 7 CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) 1.(C) Summary: Djiboutian Foreign Mahmoud Ali Youssouf reports that a senior Eritrean Afar flag officer is training Afar recruits - including Djiboutians - in a further effort to destabilize Djibouti. The Afar sultan in the area is also supporting these efforts, claimed Youssouf, who is himself Afar and follows developments in the community closely. End summary. 2.(C) Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told Ambassador Jan. 11 that the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has stepped up efforts to train and equip ethnic Afars to destabilize Djibouti. An Afar himself, Youssouf said that President Isaias Afeworki had given the task to an Eritrean Afar flag officer, Admiral Humed (nicknamed "Karikare"). He said Humed is training Afar in the vicinity of Rehayto, Eritrea, ostensibly to counter domestic threats from the Eritrean "Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization," but in reality to prepare forces to threaten Djibouti. The Afar Sultan of Rehayto is collaborating in this effort, and some Djiboutian men are among those being trained, Youssouf said. (Note: The realm of the Sultan of Rehayto extends south into Djiboutian territory, as far as Obock. End Note.) 3.(C) As background, Youssouf reported that Humed had previously been at odds with Isaias. In April 2008 (Ref A),Youssouf had made contact with Houmed in an effort to open a channel to resolve the border dispute. Humed was initially receptive, but later abruptly ended communication. Isaias and Humed have now reconciled, Youssouf said, clearing the way for Humed to rally an Afar force to use against Djibouti. 4.(C) Additional bio notes provided by Embassy Asmara: Major General Humed Ahmed (or Mohammed) Karikare is the head of the Eritrean Navy. He is an ethnic Afar and usually based in the Eritrean port town of Tio, between Assab and Massawa. Karikare is reported to have been "frozen" by Isaias in 2006, but has since returned to good standing. In 2007 he was instrumental in winning the release of a handful of British and French tourists kidnapped by Afar tribesmen on the Ethiopian side of the border, according to the British Ambassador. The Yemeni Ambassador also speaks highly of MG Karikare, saying he is the only person in the GSE who will talk to him when Eritrea seizes Yemeni boats and fishermen. Karikare has not heretofore been associated with Isaias's black operations, and he is seen as a relatively helpful and cooperative senior Eritrean officer. End additional bio notes. 5.(C) Comment: Despite the diplomatic success of UNSCR 1907, which sanctions Eritrea, the GODJ remains fearful of GSE infiltration or other military action to threaten Djibouti (Ref B). As an ethnic Afar from Tadjourah region, Foreign Minister Youssouf tracks such threat reports closely. While we are not in a position to corroborate Youssouf's information, Isaias's use of a senior Afar military officer and the Afar Sultan of Rehayto would be typical of GSE efforts to stir up trouble among minority groups in neighboring countries throughout the region. SWAN