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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04ASMARA192 |
ERITREA: COMMENTS ON ISLAMIC EXTREMISM [...] (C) POLOFF MET IN EARLY FEBRUARY WITH MUHYADIN SHENGEB, HEAD OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF ERITREAN YOUTH AND STUDENTS (NUEYS) TO DISCUSS SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING ERITREAN YOUTH. SHENGEB SAID THAT, ALTHOUGH CHRISTIAN/MUSLIM RELATIONS ARE "CORRECT" IN ERITREA, THERE ARE EXTREMI [...] |
2004-02-23 09:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PTER PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA1001 |
GSE DETAINS ERITREAN JOURNALISTS [...] (C) Summary: Since the beginning of November, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has detained at least nine employees of the Ministry of Information (MOI). Both the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have picked up the story and publicly com [...] |
2006-11-28 13:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV ER |
| 06ASMARA1015 |
SAMARITAN'S PURSE,S DRIVERS ARRESTED AND VEHICLES [...] (U) Summary. On November 20, Samaritan's Purse (SP) attempted to transfer eight vehicles, including two trucks, to the Beja Relief Organization (BRO) in Telkuk in Eastern Sudan. During the transport, the police forced the drivers to return to Asmara. In Asmara, the drivers and the local sup [...] |
2006-11-30 12:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV EAID ER SU |
| 06ASMARA1034 |
PFDJ POLITICAL CHIEF ON DARFUR, SOMALIA AND THE [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador met with People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Political Director Yemane Ghebreab on December 12. On Sudan, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) remains hopeful - unrealistically so it appears for now ) that it may still play a role in helping to [...] |
2006-12-14 13:21:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KREC ER |
| 06ASMARA1035 |
GSE ARRESTS THE PARENTS AND SPOUSES OF NATIONAL [...] (U) Continuing its intimidation tactics, the Government of Eritrea(GSE) has initiated a large scale round-up of the parents and spouses of Eritreans who have escaped from Eritrea. On December 8, within Asmara and in nearby towns, the GSE commenced nighttime roundups of family members of indiv [...] |
2006-12-15 08:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV ER |
| 06ASMARA1051 |
ERITREA AND IRAN DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC TIES [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) recently announced that it had sent an envoy to Iran to establish formal diplomatic relations and economic ties with Iran. In a December 15 Reuters report, Andeab Meskel, head of the Afro-Asia-Pacific desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [...] |
2006-12-19 14:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR IR ER |
| 06ASMARA1058 |
GSE TIGHTENS CONTROL ON OFFICIAL RELIGIOUS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since the middle of November, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has sought to increase its level of control over the four official religious institutions in Eritrea. The GSE has directed all four institutions ) the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the [...] |
2006-12-21 14:32:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF ER |
| 06ASMARA1066 |
ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA SKIRMISH AS THE RUMOR MILL [...] (S) Reports of two separate attacks by Eritrean Defense Forces(EDF) on Ethiopian National Defense Forces(ENDF) (Reftel A and B) in the region of the central sector of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) and the rumors and rumblings in Asmara of an impending war, have increased the level of inte [...] |
2006-12-22 08:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PGOV KPKO MARR PINR UNSC ER |
| 06ASMARA1072 |
MEMBERS OF UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS GROUPS ARRESTED [...] During the second week of November, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) orchestrated a large scale campaign to arrest members of the unregistered religious groups in Mendefera, in the heart of the predominantly-Christian central highlands, about 1 hour from Asmara. Initial reports cl [...] |
2006-12-27 11:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KIRF ER |
| 06ASMARA1079 |
UPDATE ON HELEN BERHANE [...] (C) While unconfirmed, post received reports that Helen Berhane crossed the border illegally to Sudan on December 21. British Charge received notification from London on December 23, indicating that the human rights NGO, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) claimed she departed Eritrea and wa [...] |
2006-12-27 14:38:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF ER |
| 06ASMARA1087 |
DEMARCHE TO MFA ON UNSC 1737 [...] (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Director General for Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Andeab Ghebremeskel, on December 28, 2006. Andeab stated that "nuclear issues were not an issue" for Eritrea and that Eritrean-Iranian relations had "little or nothing to do with nuclear issues." A [...] |
2006-12-29 08:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC KNNP PREL PINR ER IR |
| 06ASMARA162 |
DEMARCHE: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION [...] (C) Ambassador delivered ref a demarche to MFA Director General for the Americas and International Organizations, Ghirmai Ghebremariam on February 9. Ambassador reminded Ghirmai as well that Venezuela was only one of three nations that had opposed the IAEA reporting Iran to the Security Cou [...] |
2006-02-09 14:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER |
| 06ASMARA176 |
SRSG LEGWAILA DOWNPLAYS GSE DETENTION OF UNMEE [...] (SBU) SRSG Leqwaila and UNMEE staff members provided an update on detained staff on February 15. They report that 22 staff members (of a total local staff of approximately 200) had been detained but that 11 of those have already been released. Status of another 17 staff members continue to b [...] |
2006-02-15 14:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR UNSC KPKO MARR EFIN ET ER |
| 06ASMARA250 |
FROM ROCKS TO RICHES: MINERAL WEALTH IN ERITREA [...] (U) Summary: Biblical tales of wealth from the Pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty and stories of old Italian gold mines shape the dreams and expectations of miners in Eritrea. Presently, five foreign companies are in various stages of exploration, some having made significant finds of gold, silve [...] |
2006-03-14 08:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ETRD ER |
| 06ASMARA261 |
ERITREA'S IMPROVED READINESS FOR AVIAN FLU [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since December 2005, Eritrea has developed a response plan to Avian Flu. Established recently, the National Avian Influenza Committee is an inter-ministry collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Health. The Committee aims to r [...] |
2006-03-15 15:10:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT CASC AMED AEMR EAGR EAID KSCA PREL ER |
| 06ASMARA275 |
PATRIARCH'S DEPOSAL CONFIRMED [...] (C) Eritrean Orthodox Church Administrator General Yofthahe Dimetros confirmed today the removal of Abune Antonios as the church's patriarch.(Reftel) According to the GSE-appointed Yofthahe, the Holy Synod voted to depose the Patriarch citing religious differences and claiming the Patriarch h [...] |
2006-03-21 12:27:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF ER |
| 06ASMARA280 |
DON'T WANT IT, DON'T NEED IT: GSE ASKS THREE MORE [...] (C) SUMMARY: In letters dated March 20, the Government of Eritrea(GSE) informed three NGOs, Concern, Accord and Mercy Corps, that they had not met the requirements for their operational permits and that their registration certificates were being revoked. According to the letter they were aske [...] |
2006-03-23 14:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL EAID ER |
| 06ASMARA317 |
UNMEE Force Commander Cautions Against [...] (C) SUMMARY: In an April 3 meeting with DAS Don Yamamoto, UNMEE Force Commander Major General Rajender Singh offered a clear and comprehensive technical strategy for the demarcation process. Operating on the principle that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed", Singh also argued that [...] |
2006-04-05 15:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO MARR ER ET |
| 06ASMARA323 |
CAMEL AIRWAYS: IS THERE HUMAN SMUGGLING IN [...] (C) As the situation in Eritrea further deteriorates and GSE restrictions tighten, increasingly Eritreans desperately search for a way out. To avoid national service and conscription into the army, many Eritreans are trying to leave. A recent report from the western region of Eritrea regardin [...] |
2006-04-06 14:14:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR PREL CVIS ER |
| 06ASMARA327 |
ERITREAN OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACKS ON [...] (C) During the month of March, individuals claiming to be members of the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean Kunama(DMLEK)reportedly carried out several attacks against the Eritrean Defense Forces in the Gash Barka area of western Eritrea. A third country diplomat initially [...] |
2006-04-10 12:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ER |
| 06ASMARA339 |
FOOD AID FOR ERITREA: A PENDING CRISIS WITHOUT A [...] (C) With the ever growing humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, concerns over Eritrea's food needs and the Government of the State of Eritrea's (GSE's) plans escalate. Reports from the various regions present a dire picture regarding food security and livestock health. Food remains undi [...] |
2006-04-13 07:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL EAID ECON EGAD ER |
| 06ASMARA347 |
ERITREA'S ECONOMY ON THE ROPES; DOES THE GSE HAVE [...] (C) Summary: With telephone outages the norm, electricity essentially rationed, and imports cut to next to nil, Eritrea faces an economic crisis. Since the end of the war with Ethiopia in 2000, Eritrea has maintained a heightened state of national security. For the Government of Eritrea (GSE) [...] |
2006-04-18 10:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ECON EAID EFIN ET ER |
| 06ASMARA354 |
ERITREA TO HOST EASTERN FRONT NEGOTIATIONS [...] (C) Summary: With the announcement that Eritrea will host talks between the Eastern Front and Sudan's Government of National Unity, speculation has risen on whether we may finally see a resolution to instability in eastern Sudan. An Egyptian Diplomat provided additional information on the re [...] |
2006-04-19 12:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA355 |
INFORMATION MINISTER FIRES LATEST SALVO IN GSE ANTI-USG [...] (C) BEGIN SUMMARY. THE UNITED STATES IS "DEMONIZING" PRESIDENT ISAIAS AFWERKI AND TRYING TO DESTABILIZE ERITREA, THE ERITREAN MINISTER FOR INFORMATION ALI ABDU TOLD THE ACTING PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER DURING RARE MEETING WITH AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL. THE MINISTER RULED OUT COOPERATION ON ANY PUB [...] |
2006-04-19 12:44:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAO SCUL PGOV PREL ER |
| 06ASMARA381 |
GSE CONFIRMS ROLE IN EASTERN FRONT TALKS [...] (C) Summary: On April 24, 2006 Ambassador DeLisi met with PFDJ Political Advisor Yemane Ghebreab to discuss recent news that Eritrea would host negotiations between the Eastern Front and the Government of National Unity (GNU). Ghebreab explained that during his recent visit to Khartoum, the [...] |
2006-04-28 08:35:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA384 |
ERITREA WILL VOTE AGAINST IRAN'S UN HUMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-05-02 14:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KUNR PREL PHUM UNHRC ER |
| 06ASMARA392 |
GSE MAY WISH FOR UNMEE CONFIGURATION TO STAY THE [...] (C) While in the past the GSE openly expressed indifference to UNMEE's headquarters in Asmara and to its operations and staffing, the GSE seems to be sending a different message, via back channels, to UNMEE now. According to UNMEE Political Officer, Bruno Mpondo-Epo, the GSE opposes any change [...] |
2006-05-04 15:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO MARR ER ET |
| 06ASMARA448 |
DON'T MESS WITH UNMEE'S MANDATE: CHANGES [...] (C) In Asmara, both UNMEE officials and the GSE are sending clear messages that changing UNMEE from a peacekeeping to an observer mission will not be accepted. At the monthly Friends of UNMEE meeting on May 23, Acting SRSG Ennifar and the Force Commander Major General Mohamad Taisir relayed th [...] |
2006-05-23 14:02:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO MARR ER ET |
| 06ASMARA458 |
GSE REMAINS UNYIELDING IN MEETINGS WITH WFP ON [...] This is an action request. See para 18. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. A high-level delegation from WFP/Rome visited Asmara and met with Ministers of the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) and donors. The visit was prompted by the issues previously described in Refs A and B. Meeti [...] |
2006-05-31 13:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON PHUM PREF EGAD ER ET DJ |
| 06ASMARA467 |
NEXT STEPS ON NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN [...] (C) Summary: Following a visit by a Sudanese delegation over Eritrea Independence Day, there has been some movement on the upcoming negotiations between the Government of National Unity (GNU) and Eastern Front. Much, however, remains unresolved. While a date has been set for the upcoming "ta [...] |
2006-06-01 15:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA468 |
GSE WILLING TO ACCEPT STARVATION TO BREAK [...] (C) Summary: As tensions rise around food security and the availability of basic food stocks, the GSE appears to be willing to accept malnutrition and even starvation of Eritrean citizen as an acceptable price to pay in breaking a "culture of dependency" on food aid. Meanwhile, while food is g [...] |
2006-06-01 15:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EGAD ER |
| 06ASMARA489 |
DEMARCATION AND NORMALIZATION: A KERNAL OF HOPE [...] (C) On June 6, MFA Director General for the Americas and UN Ghirmai Ghebremariam requested a meeting with the Ambassador to express GSE concerns about the June 2nd VOA interview of DAS Yamamoto. Ghirmai claimed to be troubled by DAS YamamotoQs statement that the failure of the parties to reso [...] |
2006-06-06 14:56:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ET ER |
| 06ASMARA490 |
GSE ASKS FOR USG ROLE IN EF NEGOTIATIONS [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with PFDJ Political Advisor Yemane Ghebreab on June 6, 2006, Ambassador was told that the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to move ahead with planning for preparatory talks on June 13 with the Eastern Front and Government of National Unity (GNU). Gh [...] |
2006-06-07 14:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA491 |
VILLAGERS DEMAND ANSWERS FROM THE GSE ABOUT [...] (C) Echoing the tactics of the "Madres de Plaza de Mayo" in Buenos Aires in the late 1970s, an estimated 30 to 50 wives and elders from the Debub region came to Asmara last week to inquire of the Office of the President about their missing husbands. The women and elders sought information abo [...] |
2006-06-07 14:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR PREL SOCI ER |
| 06ASMARA492 |
CHINESE COMMERICIAL ACTIVITIES IN ERITREA: GSE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-06-07 14:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL PGOV PINR CH ER |
| 06ASMARA514 |
OPENING SESSION OF EF/KHT PREPARATORY TALKS [...] (C) Summary: On June 13, Ambassador attended the opening session of the Eastern Front/Government of National Unity (GNU) preparatory talks held in Asmara at the Eritrean Labor Union Hall. Both the Eastern Front and GNU were fully represented and provided positive statements on the success of [...] |
2006-06-14 14:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA515 |
FINANCING MINERAL EXTRACTION IN ERITREA: WHO WILL [...] (C) Summary: Despite on-going concerns about the practicality of foreign investment in Eritrea, private mining companies continue to actively seek foreign investors to bankroll the mineral extraction. Since March several development banks, private banks and private companies have traveled to E [...] |
2006-06-15 13:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ETRD ECON ER |
| 06ASMARA516 |
Dire Economic Conditions Compel GSE to Court [...] (C) Summary: After two weeks of consultation, the IMF mission team presented a hopeful image for the future as GSE officials offered assurance of GSE interest and commitment to a staff monitored program(SMP) as the first step toward HIPC support for Eritrea. GSE interest is, of course, temper [...] |
2006-06-15 14:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAID EFIN PREL ER |
| 06ASMARA517 |
FINANCING MINERAL EXTRACTION IN ERITREA: WHO WILL [...] (C) Summary: Despite on-going concerns about the practicality of foreign investment in Eritrea, private mining companies continue to actively seek foreign investors to bankroll the mineral extraction. Since March several development banks, private banks and private companies have traveled to E [...] |
2006-06-15 14:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ETRD ECON ER |
| 06ASMARA534 |
President Isaias Excoriates US and "Terrorism [...] (C) In his annual Martyrs' Day speech, President Isaias continued sounding the GSE's public anti-American position. His attacks on the US initiative to resolve the border dispute with Ethiopia have become increasingly public and strident since an early April cabinet meeting. Both indirect and [...] |
2006-06-21 15:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA543 |
AMBASSADOR YATES AND GSE TALK ON EASTERN [...] (C) Summary: Following the conclusion of preparatory talks between the Eastern Front and Government of National Unity (GNU), Ambassador John Yates had the opportunity to sit down with the Eritrean mediator, PFDJ Political Advisor Yemane Ghebreab, to discuss the just-concluded preliminary roun [...] |
2006-06-26 15:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA552 |
EASTERN FRONT OFFER UP THEIR SIDE [...] (C) Summary: On June 22, Ambassador John Yates met with the leadership of the Eastern Front to get a better sense of their negotiating strategy and readiness following the first round of talks. The group explained that their primary goal before talks begin is to build a broadly based consensu [...] |
2006-06-27 14:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA553 |
CONTROLLING THE MARKET, CONTROLLING THE PEOPLE: [...] (C) Summary: Taking its ideological cue from the centralized economies it so admires, the GSE, acting through the Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice, established the Hidri Trust in 1994 with the intent of helping society. Hidri, meaning a promise or pact, is, however, an entity shrouded [...] |
2006-06-27 14:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EIND PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA580 |
Eritrea: 2006 Report on Investment Disputes and [...] The United States Government is aware of four claims by American citizens that may be outstanding against the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE). Three of these claims were reported in previous reports and there is one new claim for 2006. 2. a) Claimant A b) 1998 c) On July 20 [...] |
2006-07-07 09:33:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ENIV CASC KIDE OPIC PGOV ER |
| 06ASMARA604 |
LEAD UP TO SECOND ROUND OF EF/KHT [...] (C) Summary: The second round of negotiations between the Eastern Front and Government of National Unity (GNU) commenced on July 17, 2006. All sides were very positive on the prospect of reaching a quick settlement to the problems that have beset eastern Sudan. In the lead-up to the second r [...] |
2006-07-19 15:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA618 |
ERITREA - HUMANITARIAN UPDATE [...] USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor (RA) Georgianna Platt traveled to Eritrea June 17-29, 2006 to meet with U.N. agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), OFDA implementing partners and staff of the US Embassy Humanitarian Affairs Unit (HAU) to assess the overall humanitarian situation and impac [...] |
2006-07-28 09:06:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID UN ER |
| 06ASMARA624 |
THE DARFUR BUZZ FROM ASMARA: NO GOOD NEWS FOR [...] (C) Summary: Since early June, Embassy Asmara has been following the rumors and activities of key Darfur players in Asmara. PolOff has met with each of the leaders of the newly formed National Redemption Front (NRF) as well as AbdulWahid Nour and his father-in-law Abul Gasem. NRF leaders in [...] |
2006-07-31 15:02:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA625 |
EF/GNU NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: REASONABLE [...] (C) Summary: According to both Eastern Front (EF) contacts and Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) officials, there has been reasonable progress on the Eastern Front/Government of National Unity (EF/GNU) negotiations so far. The two trickiest issues are no surprise: whether to unify t [...] |
2006-08-01 12:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA636 |
ABDULWAHID DETHRONED? [...] (C) Summary: While no one has publicly denounced the claim made by Ahmed Abdel Shafi in his "Impeachment of President of SLM/A AbdulWahid Mohamed Ahmed Nur," issued on July 28, AbdulWahid and his close advisors seem unwilling to accept their fate. AbdulWahid in a meeting with PolOff on August [...] |
2006-08-03 14:35:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA648 |
DARFUR: ABDEL SHAFI WANTS SLM/A TO REUNITE [...] (C) Summary: Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM/A) defector Ahmed Abdel Shafi and Babikir Abdalla Mohamed requested a meeting with the Embassy on August 8 to discuss the recent press release issued by 32 commanders of the SLM/A, explain the current state of play within the organization and ask fo [...] |
2006-08-09 13:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA652 |
ERITREANS JUBILANT AFTER ETHIOPIAN BRIGADIER [...] (C) Celebrations continue in Asmara with military and government officials following the defection of Ethiopian Brigadier General Kemal Geltu with a number of troops on August 9. Previously commander of Ethiopia's 18th Army Division, Geltu is an ethnic Oromo who reportedly was denied a recent [...] |
2006-08-11 10:45:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR MOPS ET ER |
| 06ASMARA679 |
EASTERN FRONT/GNU NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED, NO [...] (C) Summary: While the Eastern Front and the Government of Nation Unity(GNU) have both expressed optimism about progress in negotiations since their resumption August 8, outside advisors for the Eastern Front expressed concern about the Eastern Front's capabilities to achieve a fair agreement. [...] |
2006-08-21 15:13:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA690 |
PRESIDENT ISAIAS SPEAKS ON BORDER AND ON REGION [...] Summary: In a speech given August 24 to students in the northern Eritrean town of Nakfa, President Isaias continued to blame the US for lack of progress on border demarcation and insisted that Eritrea will find its own solution to the impasse. In his standard diatribe against the Ethiopian TP [...] |
2006-08-25 08:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA691 |
DIASPORA MEMBERS HARASSED DURING SUMMER VISIT [...] (U) Summary: Every summer the return of the beles, or prickly pears, to streets and villages of Eritrea also mark the return of the other beles, the Eritrean diaspora. While the GSE welcomes the return of the diaspora, and their foreign currency, by sponsoring festivals and events and having [...] |
2006-08-25 09:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR CASC ER |
| 06ASMARA694 |
ONE REPORTED KILLED DURING WEEKEND ROUNDUPS [...] (C) Throughout the weekend, the Eritrean army conducted sweeping round-ups in Asmara. Witnesses to the round-ups reported as many as 200 soldiers in the central market during prime shopping hours on August 26. Soldiers reportedly went in and out of stores and around the open air market aggre [...] |
2006-08-28 12:54:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA698 |
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR GHEBREMESKEL DISCUSSES U.S.- [...] (U) Cable includes an action request for AF/E. See para 11. 2. (C) Summary: Charg d,Affaires met with the Director in the Office of the President Yemane Ghebremeskel on August 28, at his request, to discuss the status of the proposed phone call from Secretary Rice and to reiterate a pro [...] |
2006-08-29 13:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA708 |
AMERICAN BABY DETAINED FOR FOUR NIGHTS IN ERITREAN [...] (C) On August 31, Poloff received an inquiry from an American citizen father informing post that his two-month old son and the child,s mother, Senait Solomon, an Eritrean citizen were being detained in Dekemhare, about 40km from Asmara. Upon learning of the detention, Poloff contacted the mot [...] |
2006-09-01 15:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR CASC ER |
| 06ASMARA751 |
NIGHTCLUB GOERS ARRESTED DURING ROUNDUPS IN ASMARA [...] (C) Summary: While few would describe Asmara as the dance hotspot of the Horn of Africa, many club goers may have wished they stayed home during the weekend of September 16. Eritrean authorities conducted simultaneous late-night raids in the nightclubs throughout town as part of what appears t [...] |
2006-09-20 13:13:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA755 |
ERITREA PUBLICLY COMMENTS ON ARRESTED UNMEE STAFF [...] (U) On September 23, Eritrean television news (Eri-TV) publicly commented (The GSE did issue public statements in response to the UN public statement.) on the August arrest of an UNMEE volunteer (UNV) staff member under charges of smuggling. The Eri-TV report claims the UNV admitted to smuggli [...] |
2006-09-25 11:13:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KPKO PHUM PINR UNSC ER |
| 06ASMARA756 |
OLF CHAIRMAN SPEAKS ON ENDF AND RECENT OROMO [...] (C) On September 22, Poloff met with Oromo Liberation Front(OLF) Chairman Daoud Ibsa in Asmara. Daoud provided further insight into the state of affairs of the Ethopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the OLF efforts in Ethiopia, following the September defections of two high level ENDF gene [...] |
2006-09-25 12:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS KDEM ASEC ET ER |
| 06ASMARA757 |
EASTERN FRONT NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED; OPTIMISM [...] (C) Summary: Negotiations between the Sudanese Government of National Unity (GNU) and Eastern Front (EF) are proceeding apace with the third and final committee currently in session. While the GNU, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) mediator and many in the diplomatic community see [...] |
2006-09-25 12:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR SU ER |
| 06ASMARA778 |
GSE CONFISCATES KALE HIWOT CHURCH PROPERTY [...] (C) Continuing the pattern of government control over social institutions, the GSE ordered the confiscation of all of Kale Hiwot,s church property. On September 13, the leader of another unregistered church, Reverend Zecharias Abraham (protect) told Poloff the church received a letter the week [...] |
2006-09-28 14:22:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF ER |
| 06ASMARA787 |
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EASTERN FRONT: SEEKING U.S. [...] (C) Summary: On September 22, Poloff met with the three Eastern Front leaders, Dr. Amna Dirar, Musa Muhammed Ahmed and Salim Al-Mabrouk, to discuss the progress of their GSE-mediated negotiations with the GNU. A final agreement is reportedly close. Concerns about implementation are now becom [...] |
2006-09-29 09:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PINR ER SU |
| 06ASMARA793 |
EU REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUDAN BRIEFS ON DARFUR [...] (C) Summary: On September 29, EU Special Representative for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto briefed the diplomatic community on recent developments in Darfur. Haavisto highlighted the shifting alliances in Darfur and raised concerns over the role of Eritrea in Darfur politics and the creation of the N [...] |
2006-10-02 14:39:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA794 |
ERITREA: TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR [...] In response to reftel, post provides the short narrative below. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) strictly controls the economy of Eritrea and nearly all of the industries. It shares almost no information on the textile industry, (or other industries) publicly. To the best of post's [...] |
2006-10-03 04:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KTEX ER |
| 06ASMARA802 |
EASTERN SUDAN AGREEMENT: TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO [...] (C) Summary: Over the past week, the Eastern Front and Sudan's Government of National Unity (GNU) have agreed in principle to the wealth sharing and security arrangement components of an agreement on the future of eastern Sudan. The parties are finalizing power sharing arrangements, the fina [...] |
2006-10-04 12:51:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU |
| 06ASMARA804 |
PETROL, DIESEL AND COOKING GAS: HOT COMMODITIES IN [...] (U) Summary: Lines snaked through petrol stations over the weekend of September 30, as word of gasoline shortages spread. The mothers of Asmara, who have been increasingly reliant on kerosene for cooking, feared it might be the next fuel to disappear and rushed to stock up, adding to the fuel [...] |
2006-10-06 04:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EPET ER |
| 06ASMARA814 |
GSE RELEASES DETAINED UN STAFF TO UNMEE CUSTODY [...] (C) On October 4, the GSE released the UN Volunteer(UNV), held since August 28, to United Missions in Eritrea and Ethiopia(UNMEE) security officers. At this time, UNMEE is conducting its own investigation into the allegations of human smuggling. At an UNMEE briefing for diplomatic heads of m [...] |
2006-10-06 08:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPKO PHUM PINR UNSC ER |
| 06ASMARA815 |
ENERGY IN ERITREA: AN OFF AND ON PROPOSITION [...] (U) Summary: The following cable provides a snapshot of the erratic energy situation in Eritrea from the spring to the present. Resulting from the GSE's strictly controlled economy, a limited supply of hard currency and an opaque and seemingly uncoordinated bureaucracy, uncertainties in power [...] |
2006-10-06 08:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EPET ER |
| 06ASMARA829 |
EASTERN FRONT NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDING [...] (C) Summary: The Eastern Front and Government of National Unity (GNU) initialed the power sharing agreement on October 9. Only the implementation modalities need to be finalized and these are expected to be resolved by October 13. The Eastern Front successfully secured a significant number o [...] |
2006-10-11 11:44:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA830 |
UN SRSG GIVES VIEWS ON ERITREA AND SOMALIA [...] (C) Summary: UN Special Representative for the Secretary General (SRSG) for Somalia Francois Lonseny SIPDIS Fall briefed Emboffs October 5 on his meeting with Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) President Isaias Afwerki and provided his views on the fluid situation in Somalia. Fall ex [...] |
2006-10-11 15:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS UNSC PINR KPKO ER SO |
| 06ASMARA836 |
ERITREA: TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING [...] (U) In response to reftel, post provides the following response. The GSE strictly controls the economy of Eritrea. Information is difficult to obtain. The government does not encourage private sector growth and nearly all trade is conducted by the GSE or the government's political party owned [...] |
2006-10-12 07:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD ER |
| 06ASMARA838 |
ERITREA'S SUDANESE VENTURE CONTINUES WITH DARFUR [...] (C) Summary: Since the visits of Sudanese VP Salva Kiir and a National Congress Party (NCP) delegation in late August, rumors have been circulating about an Eritrean-hosted DPA non-signatories conference. With the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) initiative to host a Darfur meeti [...] |
2006-10-12 13:21:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA847 |
ERITREA: AGOA RESPONSE [...] (SBU) Post point of contact: Pol/Econ Officer Holly Holzer, Tel: 291-1-12-00-04, Fax: 291-1-12-75-84, email: holzerhc@state.gov 2. (SBU) Post's response is keyed to outline provided by AF/EPS. Begin text: Country Background Summary: Eritrea's economic policy continues to be built on a [...] |
2006-10-13 09:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AGOA ECON ETRD ER |
| 06ASMARA851 |
ERITREA: BLUE LANTERN REPORT [...] To date, Post has not participated in the Blue Lantern program. Should a request be initiated, post will respond. The Government of Eritrea (GSE) strictly controls the economy of Eritrea. Information is difficult to obtain. Nearly all trade is conducted by the GSE or the government's political [...] |
2006-10-16 07:24:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD ER |
| 06ASMARA856 |
EASTERN SUDAN PEACE AGREEMENT (ESPA) SIGNED [...] (C) Summary: On October 14, 2006, the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) was signed in Asmara, Eritrea. Senior level officials from the region attended the signing ceremony which was presided over by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir and Suda [...] |
2006-10-16 14:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA858 |
PRESIDENT ISAIAS SPEAKS AT SIGNING OF ESPA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-16 14:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KPKO PINR SU ER |
| 06ASMARA861 |
ERITREA MOVES TROOPS AND ARMOR INTO THE TSZ [...] (C) On the morning of October 16, the GSE moved troops, tanks and heavy equipment transporters into the Western Sector of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ). UNMEE reported at a meeting of the P5 representatives that approximately 1000 troops with 10 tanks had crossed the TSZ checkpoint at Mael [...] |
2006-10-17 14:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KPKO UNSC MOPS ER |
| 06ASMARA862 |
HELEN BERHANE IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BEATEN [...] (C) Post has confirmed reports that Helen Berhane, noted Eritrean Evangelical Christian gospel singer, is receiving medical treatment at Halibet Hospital in Asmara. The hospital admitted Ms. Berhane after she was severely beaten while detained in the Mai Serwa prison. At this time her condit [...] |
2006-10-18 12:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF ER |
| 06ASMARA866 |
ISAIAS: WE COULD WAIT NO LONGER; ERITREA,S TROOPS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-18 14:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPKO MOPS PINR UNSC ER |
| 06ASMARA877 |
ERITREA: DETERMINED TO PLAY ON DARFUR MEDIATION [...] (C) Summary: Only one day after the signing of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA), Eritrea turned its attention to Darfur, meeting a National Congress Party (NCP) delegation led by Presidential Assistant Nafie ali Nafie and NCP Director of Intelligence and Security Saleh Gosh. Reports i [...] |
2006-10-20 12:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA885 |
ONE KILLED AS ERITREAN INTRUDERS ATTACK UNMEE [...] (C) On October 21 between 20:00 and 21:00, an UNMEE Jordanian soldier shot and killed an Eritrean intruder in the Giega UNMEE camp near Barentu in UN West Sector. The Eritrean, accompanied by two others who managed to escape during the melee, illegally entered the camp by cutting through the [...] |
2006-10-25 16:53:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PGOV KPKO UNSC PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA888 |
ETHNIC AFAR OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACK ON GSE [...] (U) On September 30, individuals claiming to be members of the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization(RSADO) reportedly carried out an attack against an Eritrean naval facility on the island of Haleb a few kilometers offshore from the Eritrean Port of Assab. Post obtained from www.mesel-biherat [...] |
2006-10-26 17:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR ER |
| 06ASMARA933 |
ABDULWAHID PLANS DEPARTURE FROM ASMARA AND ASKS [...] (C) Summary: AbdulWahid al-Nur recently has told Emboff he plans to depart Asmara on November 8 for Europe and then Darfur, to meet with his supporters. He proposed tacking on travel to the U.S., requesting USG visa and financial assistance for the trip. AbdulWahid expressed support for the [...] |
2006-11-08 14:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA940 |
ABDUL SHAFI ALSO CLAIMS HE WILL RETURN TO DARFUR [...] (C) Summary: Ahmed Abdul Shafi plans to depart Asmara on November 12, to arrive in Darfur early next week in order to take part in the SLM military commanders meeting scheduled for November 15. He claims to be in close contact with his commanders as well as Sharif Harir and Khamis Abdalia A [...] |
2006-11-09 14:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA956 |
GSE SUDAN MEDIATOR OFFERS VIEWS ON POSSIBLE DARFUR [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador met with Yemane Ghebreab, PFDJ head of Political Affairs and GSE mediator for Sudan, on November 14 to discuss his recent visit to Khartoum, plans for a potential Eritrean mediation on Darfur and the outcome of the Eastern Front consultative conference in Rubda. Ghebr [...] |
2006-11-16 14:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PGOV ER SU |
| 06ASMARA967 |
CONTAINERS ARE A LUXURY: ERITREA RESPONDS TO CPC [...] (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to MFA Director General for the Americas Girma Asmerom on November 16, 2006. In an expected reponse, Girma decried the designation of Eritrea as a Country of Particular Concern for severe religious freedom violations. Declaring that the USG,s decision [...] |
2006-11-21 05:51:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KPAO OPRC ER |
| 06ASMARA970 |
ERITREA EXPELS TWO MORE NGOs [...] Summary: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) ordered non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Samaritan's Purse(SP) and the International Rescue Committee(IRC) to terminate operations in Eritrea by November 15, 2006. In a letter dated October 31 and signed by the Minister of Labor and Hu [...] |
2006-11-21 11:47:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV EAID ER SU |
| 06ASMARA994 |
MFA PROTESTS HARSH RECIPROCAL MEASURES AND U.S. [...] (C) Summary. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for the Americas and International Affairs Girma Asmerom called in the Ambassador on November 24 to lodge two official protests. The first complaint concerned the recent notification to the Eritrean Embassy in Washington extending tra [...] |
2006-11-27 12:53:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR KREC CVIS ER |
| 06ASMARA995 |
SAWA: A SCHOOL, A TRAINING CAMP AND A DETENTION [...] (C) Summary: On the dusty hot plains of western Gash Barka, in the small village of Sawa, the GSE operates two facilities, the youth campus of Sawa and Forto Sawa. The youth campus of Sawa, commonly called Sawa, provides military training and political indoctrination and academic classes to [...] |
2006-11-27 13:02:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR SOCI ER |
| 06ASMARA997 |
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF NIV SERVICES IN ASMARA [...] As discussed reftel, beginning on December 4, non-emergency NIV services in Asmara will be temporarily suspended. The consular section will continue to provide full services to American citizens and, as possible, process immigrant visas. Due to staff shortages created by the refusal of the G [...] |
2006-11-28 11:14:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC CVIS PGOV PREL AMGT OFDP ER |
| 07ASMARA124 |
F-77 REPORTER DESIGNATION FOR US EMBASSY, ASMARA [...] Post designates the following two people as F-77 reporters: A. Holly C. Holzer; Pol/Econ Officer/Consul; Top Secret Clearance; tel 291-1-12-00-04 ext. 2314; unclass email holzerhc@sstate.gov. B. Brian L. Shelbourn; Vice-Consul; Top Secret Clearance; tel 291-1-12-00-04 x2415; unclass e-mai [...] |
2007-02-06 13:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT CASC CMGT AEMR ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA135 |
MAKING AN ERITREAN BORG: POLITICAL RE-EDUCATION [...] (U) The sole political party of Eritrea, the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), is harkening back to the days of Megistu and mandatory Marxist-Leninist education training. With the blessing of the Government of Eritrea (GSE), they have implemented political training for all gove [...] |
2007-02-09 06:14:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KPAO SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA146 |
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM UPDATE: HARRASMENT, ARRESTS & [...] (U) Summary: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to persecute religious groups and detain individual church members. During the month of January, GSE officials confiscated the vestments of the deposed Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, who has been under house arr [...] |
2007-02-13 10:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA151 |
DEATH OF ERITREAN JOURNALIST REMAINS UNCONFIRMED [...] (C) On February 8, 2007 Reporters sans Frontieres(RSF) issued a press release claiming Fessehaye "Joshua" Yohannes, an Eritrean journalist detained in September 2001 died in detention on January 11, 2007. According the RSF report, the Government of Eritrea was detaining him along with others [...] |
2007-02-13 13:02:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KPAO SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA158 |
REMITTANCES AND HARD CURRENCY: ERITREA'S LIFELINE [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: As the Government of Eritrea (GSE) and its sole political party, the PFDJ, continue to hold the Eritrean economy in a strangle-hold, the economy continues to circle the drain, making hard currency and remittances the critical factors for Eritrea's on-going economic survival. Th [...] |
2007-02-16 08:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PINR ECON EFIN ER |
| 07ASMARA16 |
WFP EXPATRIATE ILLEGALLY DETAINED BY UNIDENTIFIED [...] (C) Summary: On December 17, a Belgian national working for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was threatened and arrested by unidentified GSE authorities while taking photographs of street scenes in downtown Asmara. He was detained at a police station overnight before being released the foll [...] |
2007-01-04 14:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM ER |
| 07ASMARA162 |
EASTERN FRONT PEACE AGREEMENT: STRUGGLING WITH [...] (C) Summary: In the aftermath of the October 14 signing of the Eastern Front Peace Agreement (EFPA), the undercurrent of tensions, personal ambition and animosities between Eastern Front (EF) leaders came to a head, with a near collapse of the entity in December. The intercession of the Erit [...] |
2007-02-21 08:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SU ER |
| 07ASMARA28 |
GOING, GOING, NEARLY GONE: HUMAN RIGHTS & CIVIL [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea, once praised by many for its freedoms and possibilities, has abandoned the path of human rights and instead become one of the most restrictive and controlling societies in the world. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) operates with a callous indifference to [...] |
2007-01-10 13:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL UNSC ECON EAID SOCI KIRF KPAO |
| 07ASMARA282 |
KIDNAPPED EUROPEANS RELEASED IN ERITREA [...] (C) Just after 1700 on March 13, an Eritrean military helicopter landed in Asmara returning the five Europeans kidnapped on March 1. The Europeans arrived in good health and good spirits, reporting their kidnappers treated them well during the ordeal. Upon arrival, the hostages met immediate [...] |
2007-03-14 13:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PREL PINR PTER ET ER |
| 07ASMARA300 |
MORE DETAILS: KIDNAPPED EUROPEANS RELEASE IN [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: On March 14, British Embassy officials provided additional details about the kidnapping and release of the five Europeans by the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front (ARDUF). The British officials also shared a report issued by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) [...] |
2007-03-15 14:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PREL PINR PTER ET ER |
| 07ASMARA306 |
ERITREA: AGOA RESPONSE [...] Post point of contact: Pol/Econ Officer Holly Holzer, Tel: 291-1-12-00-04, Fax: 291-1275-84, Email holzerhc@state.gov. 2. Post's response is keyed to headers in Reftel. 3. Market Economy/Economic Reform/Elimination of Trade Barriers: One of the world's poorest countries, Eritrea maintains [...] |
2007-03-16 08:56:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON PHUM ER |
| 07ASMARA307 |
EXPANDING QATARI INTERESTS IN ERITRA; COMMERCIAL, [...] (C) In a March 14 meeting with DCM, the Sudanese DCM in Eritrea Hussein Mohammed Hussein expanded on recent press reports on March 7-8 discussions between Eritrean President Isaias, Sudanese President Bashir, and Sheikh Hamed Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar in Doha. The topics they focused on include [...] |
2007-03-16 09:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER QA |
| 07ASMARA310 |
SUDANESE PITCH (AGAIN) AN ERITREAN-LED MEDIATION [...] (C) DCM met with Sudanese DCM in Eritrea Hussein Mohammed Hussein at his request on March 14. Hussein asked for clarification of the USG position on a proposed Eritrean-led mediation for Darfur, a subject which he had first raised with DCM on February 25 (Ref A). DCM responded that the U.S. [...] |
2007-03-19 13:11:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER |
| 07ASMARA316 |
SOMALI MPS IN ERITREA DISCUSS VIEWS AND FUTURE [...] (C) Summary: On March 17, Poloff met with Abdikadir Dakane and Abdirahma "Ibbi" Haji Adan, both supporters of the former Somali Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and one of the 42 members of parliament (MPs) of the Transitional Federal Government that fled Somalia in recent months. Calling th [...] |
2007-03-20 13:54:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR MOPS KPKO UNSC ER ET SO |
| 07ASMARA317 |
GSE PNGS UNMEE SENIOR MANAGER [...] (SBU) On March 16, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) declared persona non grata Senior Manager David Bax of the UN Mission for Eritrea and Ethiopia Mine Action Coordination Committee(UNMEE-MACC). Bax was given four days to depart Eritrea. He left on March 17 for Addis Ababa, where [...] |
2007-03-20 14:11:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR KPKO ER |
| 07ASMARA328 |
UN SPECIAL ENVOY MEETS WITH ERITREAN PRESIDENT [...] (C) UN Special Envoy for Sudan Jan Eliasson and UN Mission in Sudan Principal Deputy Special Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun, met with Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) President Isaias Afwerki on March 22. Subsequent to his meeting, Eliasson spoke with the Ambassador, relaying both [...] |
2007-03-23 09:01:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KPKO UNSC ER SU |
| 07ASMARA336 |
UGANDAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS ERITREAN PRESIDENT [...] (U) Ugandan Foreign Minister, Sam Kutesa, met with Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) President Isaias Afwerki on March 19. Official reports of the meeting posted on the GSE website www.shabait.com claimed Kutesa delivered a message to Isaias from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in wh [...] |
2007-03-27 09:27:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER UG SO |
| 07ASMARA338 |
TROUBLED TIMES FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH [...] (C) The Catholic Church continues to endure harassment and pressure from the Government of Eritrea (GSE) as the GSE insists that priests and seminarians participate in military training. In a meeting with Emboff on March 26, the Catholic Bishop of Asmara, Menghesteab Tesfamarian (protect) said [...] |
2007-03-28 13:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SOCI KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA339 |
EU DELEGATION DISCUSSES SOMALIA WITH PRESIDENT [...] (C) A four-person EU delegation on Somalia, led by Ambassador-at-large of the German Federal Foreign Office Michael Klor-Berchtold, briefed the EU, Norwegian and U.S. Embassies March 27 about their meeting with President Isaias earlier in the day. The delegation said they emphasized to Isaias [...] |
2007-03-28 13:44:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SO |
| 07ASMARA345 |
ERITREAN MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT "FROZEN" [...] (C) President Isaias Afwerki has, by all accounts, recently "frozen" Minister of National Development (MOND), Woldai Futur, essentially stripping him of his substantive responsibilities but stopping short of formally dismissing him. In January the European Commission and World Bank both r [...] |
2007-04-02 13:22:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EAID ECON ER |
| 07ASMARA346 |
EU-ERITREA COURTSHIP?: MEANINGFUL CHANGE SHOULD BE [...] (C) Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has recently personified (at least for him) reasonableness and cooperation in meetings with the EU representatives and UN Special Envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson. Simultaneously, however, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to excoriate [...] |
2007-04-02 15:39:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM ER SO SU UK EU |
| 07ASMARA347 |
SUDANESE DCM: GSE MOVING ON DARFUR MEDIATION AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a March 28 meeting, Sudanese DCM in Asmara Hussein Mohammed Hussein claimed that the Eritreans were close to achieving agreement from the non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) that they would meet in Asmara mid-April for the purpose of creating a united political [...] |
2007-04-03 08:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
| 07ASMARA36 |
TIME TO SPEAK UP: A NEW STRATEGY FOR ERITREA [...] (C) Summary and Introduction: The serious abuses of human rights fo which the Government of Eritrea is responsible and its continued rejection of even the most fundamental democratic principles in governance remain serious problems and a major impediment to improvemen of bilateral ties. (refte [...] |
2007-01-11 13:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL UNSC ECON EAID SOCI KIRF KPAO ER |
| 07ASMARA363 |
EU SPECIAL REP PEKKA HAAVISTO CALLS ON ERITREAN [...] (C) In discussions on April 7 with EU Special Representative for Sudan Pekka Haavisto, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki clearly stated Eritrea would not attend the scheduled April 28 meeting on Darfur in Tripoli. Haavisto reported that President Isaias appeared definite - and perhaps slighte [...] |
2007-04-09 14:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR ER SU |
| 07ASMARA375 |
SOMALI OPPOSITION IN ERITREA; HANGING OUT AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: Asmara is full of Somali opposition these days with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Council of Islamic Courts (CIC) and Hussein Aideed, Hawiye/Haber Gedir clan leader and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Deputy Prime Minister, joining the exiled Somali Members of Parliamen [...] |
2007-04-13 08:47:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR UNSC KPKO MOPS ER ET SO |
| 07ASMARA379 |
SOMALIS IN ASMARA ISSUE COMMUNIQU [...] On April 17, Poloff received a copy via email of a joint communiqu issued by Hussein Aideed, Somali TFG Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Council of Islamic Courts and Sharif Hassen Sheikh Adan, the exiled Somali Parliament Speaker. Poloff confirmed with Aideed that the [...] |
2007-04-17 08:42:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PINR SO ER |
| 07ASMARA393 |
OSMAN SALEH MOHAMMED APPOINTED NEW MINISTER OF [...] (U) The Government of Eritrea (GSE) announced April 18 the appointment of Osman Saleh Mohammed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The position of Minister of Foreign Affairs has been vacant since the August 2005 death of former minister Ali Said. Simultaneously the GSE announced that Semere [...] |
2007-04-20 04:56:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA396 |
EUROPEAN COMMISSION MAKING NICE WITH ERITREA: AT [...] (C) SUMMARY: More than 240 million euros for Eritrea hang in the balance as the European Commission(EC) seemingly cozies up to the Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE) and ignores its own basic principles and beliefs. Despite the displeasure and frustration of member states in Asmara, the [...] |
2007-04-25 12:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA397 |
ERITREA ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL FROM IGAD [...] (U) The Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE) announced on April 21 that it had suspended its membership in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development(IGAD). In an official statement posted on www.shabait.com, the GSE claimed it was "compelled to take the move due to the fact that a nu [...] |
2007-04-25 12:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA421 |
GSE ARRESTS PRESBYTERIANS FOLLOWING WORSHIP SERVICE [...] (C) Following worship services on Sunday, April 29, officials from the Government of Eritrea's (GSE) national security office appeared at the unregistered Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Asmara and arrested nearly 80 individuals, including two American citizen missionaries. Co [...] |
2007-05-03 13:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA444 |
ERITREA BANS FGM [...] With a prevalence rate of 89%, the Government of Eritrea (GSE) took a significant step and in March 2007 banned female genital mutilation (FGM). In Proclamation 158/2007, the GSE noted that FGM violates women's basic human rights and endangers the health of women, and with one sentence abolish [...] |
2007-05-09 13:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM KWMN SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA445 |
JAILS IN ASMARA: A RECENT ACCOUNT [...] (C) Summary: Recent experiences of individuals detained in an Asmara police station shed new light on both the conditions and the operations of jails at police stations. The benign neglect of the jail guards prove a stark contrast to the horrific accommodations described by individuals incarce [...] |
2007-05-10 13:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA452 |
RUMORS OF MUSLIM PERSECUTION AND DISAPPEARANCES [...] (C/NF) Over the past several months, Poloff has heard rumors of the arrest and disappearance of Muslims in the lowlands of Eritrea. According to several individuals, GSE security forces appear at the homes of Muslims in the lowland areas of the Northern and Southern Red Sea zobas (regions) an [...] |
2007-05-15 13:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA453 |
AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE FOR ERITREA [...] As reported in ref C, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has extremely limited resources to battle an outbreak of human-to-human highly pathogenic influenza. The country's weak infrastructure and resource shortages raise serious questions about the GSE's ability to respond to even a [...] |
2007-05-16 12:12:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KFLU TBIO AMED EAID EAGR SENV ER |
| 07ASMARA463 |
INDEPENDENCE DAY DOES NOT MEAN FREEDOM IN ERITREA [...] In the days leading up to Eritrean Independence day on May 24, the Government of Eritrea flexes its muscles and shows again to the people of Eritrea how Eritrean independence does not equal freedom. The streets of Asmara are flooded with soldiers, in small and large groups. Placed at intervals [...] |
2007-05-21 11:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM ER |
| 07ASMARA464 |
INDEPENDENCE DAY DOES NOT MEAN FREEDOM IN ERITREA [...] In the days leading up to Eritrean Independence day on May 24, the Government of Eritrea flexes its muscles and shows again to the people of Eritrea how Eritrean independence does not equal freedom. The streets of Asmara are flooded with soldiers, in small and large groups. Placed at intervals [...] |
2007-05-21 11:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM ER |
| 07ASMARA466 |
SLM'S SHARIF HARIR RETURNS TO ASMARA [...] (C) Summary: Late Monday night, Eritrean People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Head of Organizational Affairs Abdallah Jabir returned to Asmara from his over four months stay in Chad, bringing with him SLM head of external affairs Sharif Harir, SLM commander Khamis Abdalla Abakr, SLM [...] |
2007-05-23 14:10:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SU ER |
| 07ASMARA467 |
GSE STYMIES MINERS [...] (C) SUMMARY: While some in the mining industry continue to express optimism, the cracks are starting to show as the Government of Eritrea expresses interest in expanding its control over mining in Eritrea. In December 2006, the GSE established the National Mining Corporation as a means to ho [...] |
2007-05-23 14:11:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ETRD ECON ER |
| 07ASMARA490 |
ERITREAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CONSECRATES NEW PATRIARCH [...] On Sunday May 27, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewhado Church consecrated Abune Dioskoros in Asmara as the church's fourth patriarch. Present at the ceremony were representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran church and the Eritrean mufti, and representatives of the Government of the State of Eritrea [...] |
2007-06-05 10:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA491 |
EASTERN SUDAN PEACE AGREEMENT: A STRUGGLE TO IMPLEMENT [...] (C) Summary: The disunity between Eastern Front(EF) leaders continues to obstruct implementation of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA). While in the past, they appeared to be working together constructively, the internal fissures within the EF and the lack of any formal structure have pr [...] |
2007-06-05 10:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
| 07ASMARA492 |
SHARIF HARIR CLAIMS U.S. WEAPONS CONFISCATED IN DARFUR [...] (C) SLM leader Sharif Harir met with Poloff on May 29 to report the confiscation of over 100 small arms from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur in the past few weeks. These weapons, predominantly handguns all bear markings identifying them as U.S. Property. To support his claim, Sharif [...] |
2007-06-05 10:56:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SU ER |
| 07ASMARA500 |
PRESIDENT ISAIAS FOCUSES ON DOMESTIC ISSUES AND BORDER IN [...] SUMMARY: On May 24, the 16th anniversary of Eritrea's independence, President Isaias Afwerki spoke at length about domestic economic concerns and the border. The President's speech squarely blamed the U.S. for the lack of progress in demarcating the border and described international initiati [...] |
2007-06-06 14:22:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA509 |
HOT AND DRY IN KEREN: THE LOCAL ECONOMY SHRIVELS UP [...] On a recent trip to Keren, Embassy employee observed that Eritrea's economic crisis appears more acute outside of the capital city of Asmara. Keren sits 91 km northwest of Asmara in the Anseba Zone. With a population of 120,000, Keren is a major agriculture center of Eritrea, particularly for [...] |
2007-06-07 14:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EAID ECON ER |
| 07ASMARA540 |
PRESBYTERIANS RELEASED, TELL A STRANGE TALE [...] (C) Summary: During the week of May 28, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) released on bail the last seven church members of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian church. The members had been detained since their arrest on April 29 (reftel). During a meeting with Poloff on June [...] |
2007-06-25 07:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGO ER |
| 07ASMARA542 |
THE ERITREANS APPROACH EMBASSY ON DARFUR [...] (C) Summary: Following weeks of backchannel communication, Poloff and Charge met June 19 with Abdallah Jabir, one of the GSE's primary interlocutors on Sudan, and Yemane Ghebrab, Political Chief for the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), at their request to discuss Darfur. Yema [...] |
2007-06-25 08:24:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
| 07ASMARA56 |
UNMEE: CONFRONTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION [...] (U) The following is in response to reftel A. 2. (C) Since the establishment of the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2001, there have been few reported incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse and trafficking in persons within Eritrea. UNMEE Chief Legal Counsel Franklyn [...] |
2007-01-18 13:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO ER ET |
| 07ASMARA600 |
DISCUSSION WITH YEMANE GHEBREAB ON DARFUR [...] (U) Charge and Poloff met on July 9 with Yemane Ghebreab, People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Political Chief and lead Sudan negotiator for the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE), to relay points in Reftel A. This meeting follows on the GSE's request for closer coordination [...] |
2007-07-10 12:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER |
| 07ASMARA602 |
QUARTERLY FRAUD REPORT - ASMARA [...] The following is a summary of fraud conditions experienced during the April to June 2007 period. This cable constitutes post's first fraud report; for this reason, this particular report provides a general overview. Subsequent reports will address more specific fraud trends. Post has been cl [...] |
2007-07-11 11:12:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA603 |
SOMALIS IN ERITREA PLAN CONFERENCE AND EXPRESS [...] (C) Summary: In a July 5 conversation, exiled Somali MPs Yusuf Hassan Ibrahim and Fowsiya Mohammad Sheikh Hassan told Poloff that CIC leader Sheikh Sharif and former Speaker of the Parliament Sheikh Aden had agreed to establish a joint preparatory committee for a reconciliation conference. T [...] |
2007-07-11 13:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UNSC ER SO ET |
| 07ASMARA615 |
ASSAB TRIP REPORT - LOCAL ECONOMY TANKING [...] (C) Summary. Between June 16 and June 18, 2007, FSN members of post traveled to Assab, the second port city of Eritrea. They found an economy that had virtually ground to a halt and were told by local business owners that this was due to governmental restrictions on trade and movement. They [...] |
2007-07-12 14:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EAID ECON EFIS ER |
| 07ASMARA617 |
GSE ALLOWS UK DIPLOMAT TO DEPART ERITREA, BRITISH [...] (C) SUMMARY: A British technician and diplomatic passport holder finally departed Asmara on the evening of July 11. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) had refused permission for his departure since July 1. The diplomat, who was on temporary duty assignment in Eritrea from his perman [...] |
2007-07-13 08:52:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KREC ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA620 |
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO GSE VIEWS ON [...] (U) In an interview posted on www.shaebia.org on July 9, Yemane Ghebremeskel, Director of the Office of President, offered the position of the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) on a wide range of topics -- from religious freedom and human rights to international relations and Somalia. ( [...] |
2007-07-16 10:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA625 |
POSSIBLE ADOPTION FRAUD INVOLVING GSE OFFICIALS [...] (SBU) Summary: An Eritrean-American dual national, Nigisti Teklay, met with Conoff July 13 to request assistance with an alleged fraudulent case of adoption and in obtaining permission from the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) to depart the country. Ms. Teklay had recently returned t [...] |
2007-07-20 07:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KFRD KOCI CASC ER |
| 07ASMARA629 |
UNMEE: CONFRONTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION [...] (U) The following is in response to reftel A. 2. (C) Since the establishment of the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) in 2001, there have been few reported incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and trafficking in persons (TIP) within Eritrea. The Chief of t [...] |
2007-07-23 08:38:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PREL ER ET |
| 07ASMARA632 |
PFDJ SUDAN NEGOTIATOR DEBRIEFS ON TRIPOLI [...] (C) Summary. On July 19, Charge met with People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Political Chief and Sudan negotiator Yemane Ghebreab to ascertain Eritrean views on the July 15-16 Tripoli meetings on Darfur. Ghebreab described the outcome of the conference as positive. While clearly [...] |
2007-07-25 14:56:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
| 07ASMARA634 |
DEADLY FORCE POLICY FOR ERITREANS ATTEMPTING TO [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Embassy Source reported to RSO that a local party representative for the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), in a monthly meeting with PFDJ party members, stated that the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE), had instituted a shoot-to-kill policy for a [...] |
2007-07-26 13:41:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA640 |
ERITREA: 2007 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND [...] The United States Government is aware of four claims by American citizens that may be outstanding against the Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE). All, four of these claims were reported in previous reports. Point of Contact for U.S. Embassy, Asmara, Eritrea is: Holly Holzer, Political a [...] |
2007-08-01 12:47:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENIV CASC KIDE OPIC PGOV ER |
| 07ASMARA652 |
DARFUR: NONSIGNATORY GROUP IN ASMARA RAISES [...] (C) Summary. On July 30, Charge met with representatives of the newly created Darfur non-signatory umbrella group, the United Front for Liberation and Development (UFLD) at their request. The UFLD members expressed their displeasure with the methodology used by the UN/au to allocate invitatio [...] |
2007-08-06 13:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
| 07ASMARA681 |
FEEDBACK FROM ERITREA ON THE CLOSURE OF THE [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: Following notification on August 10 of the U.S. ordered closure of the Eritrean Consulate in Oakland, the Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE) remains officially quiet yet reports of great concern by the GSE trickle through to Embassy personnel. Members of Asmara's diploma [...] |
2007-08-14 14:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV ASEC PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA683 |
ERITREAN FREE TRADE ZONES - GSE'S PLANS AND POST [...] (C) Summary: On July 26, the Public Affairs Section featured Dr. Araia Tseggai, Chief Executive Officer of the Eritrea Free Zone Authority (the Authority), as speaker for the monthly American Center lecture. Part I of this cable reports on Dr. Araia's presentation of the Government of the Sta [...] |
2007-08-15 08:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA684 |
ERITREA REFLECTS ON ARUSHA AND THE NEGOTIATIONS [...] (C) Summary. On August 13 Charge met with People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Political Chief and lead Sudan interlocutor for Eritrea, Yemane Ghebreab, to discuss the Eritrean views of the August 3 ) 6 meetings in Arusha. Yemane described the meetings as having gone "very well" and [...] |
2007-08-15 13:32:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER |
| 07ASMARA698 |
SOMALI PARLIMENTARIANS SAY ASMARA CONFERENCE IS ON [...] (C) Summary: The exiled Somali members of parliament and the members of the Council of Islamic Courts (CIC plan to inaugurate the all-Somali conference in Asmara on September 1 (reftel). With over 300 Somalis expected, the conference may result in a formal alliance between supporters of the f [...] |
2007-08-24 07:52:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UNSC ER ET SO |
| 07ASMARA699 |
GSE STILL THREATENING CATHOLIC CHURCH'S AUTONOMY [...] (C) The Catholic Church continues to endure harassment and pressure from the Government of Eritrea (GSE) as the GSE threatens to repossess Church property used for social and educational programs and insist that priests and seminarians participate in military training. In an August 14 meeting, [...] |
2007-08-24 08:39:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA700 |
BRITISH COUNCIL EMPLOYEE RELEASED [...] (C) On August 1, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) released a foreign national employee of the British Council detained since July 27. The GSE arrested the employee under the guise of national security after a visiting British diplomat was seen on the roof of the British Council co [...] |
2007-08-27 05:41:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KREC ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA703 |
EASTERN FRONT LEADERS HEAD TO KHARTOUM, FINALLY [...] (C) SUMMARY: After months and months of bickering amongst themselves, the leaders of the Eastern Front (EF) are finally scheduled to leave Asmara for Khartoum on August 27, and take up their positions within Sudan's Government of National Unity (GNU). Implementation of security and national [...] |
2007-08-28 10:52:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER |
| 07ASMARA705 |
GSE INTERFERENCE WITH OPERATIONS AT OTHER [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to selectively tweak diplomatic missions in Asmara on operational issues. After fifteen months of renovating a new Embassy building, the South Africans were informed they could not move into the building. The British, Norweg [...] |
2007-08-28 14:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KREC ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA709 |
LONG-AWAITED MEETING WITH MFA YIELDS LITTLE [...] (C) Summary: In the absence of a direct response from the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) regarding the August 10 notification to close their consulate in Oakland, California, Charge d'Affaires requested a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to dis [...] |
2007-08-31 06:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KREC ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA715 |
REQUEST FOR UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION - ASMARA [...] The following is contact information for Embassy Asmara: Main switchboard number: 291-1-120004 After hours contact number-Post One: 291-1-122833 (direct) or 596-0000 (IVG) Tieline number: 596-0000 Duty Officer cell phone number can be reached through Post One: 1-291-1-122833 FAX num [...] |
2007-09-05 12:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT PGOV ER |
| 07ASMARA730 |
SOMALI CONGRESS IN ASMARA FORMS NEW POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary: The Somali Congress for Liberation and Reconstitution opened in Asmara on September 6. The Congress has attracted over 300 Somali participants in the plenary, to include exiled Members of Parliament, members of the diaspora and civil society and the Council of Islamic Courts figu [...] |
2007-09-13 14:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UNSC ER ET SO |
| 07ASMARA736 |
MEETING WITH UNMEE DEPUTY CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER [...] (S) SUMMARY: RSO and UK Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) met September 6 with the UNMEE Deputy Chief Security Officer (DCSO) to discuss the security situation in Eritrea. DCSO, RSO and UK DHM agreed to start a Security Officer's Working Group that would meet on a monthly/as needed basis. This fi [...] |
2007-09-18 08:54:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | ASEC PTER PINR PREL PGOV ER |
| 07ASMARA746 |
PURPORTED GSE RESPONSE TO STATE SPONSOR OF [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: RSO met with Source who provided third-hand information on Eritrean views towards being designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the USG. Source said that a contact in the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) claims the GSE fully antici [...] |
2007-09-19 12:38:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC PREL PGOV PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA748 |
IMPRISONED CHRISTIAN DIES IN DETENTION [...] (C) Following up on reports from various human rights websites, post has confirmed the death of Nigisti Haile at the Wi'a Military Training Center, located south of the city of Massawa. Emboff spoke with a family member on September 18. Her family member confirmed that an official from the [...] |
2007-09-21 05:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SOCI KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA751 |
ERITREA: AGOA RESPONSE [...] (SBU) Post point of contact: Pol/Econ Officer Holly Holzer, Tel: 291-1-12-00-04, Fax: 291-1-12-75-84, email: holzerhc@state.gov 2. (SBU) Post's response is keyed to outline provided by AF/EPS. Begin text: Country Background Summary: Eritrea's economic policy continues to be built on a [...] |
2007-09-24 15:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AGOA ECON ETRD ER |
| 07ASMARA762 |
ERITREA: TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR [...] In response to reftel, post provides the short narrative below. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) strictly controls the economy of Eritrea and nearly all of the industries. The GSE shares almost no information on the textile industry, (or other industries) publicly. To the best of p [...] |
2007-09-27 14:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KTEX ER |
| 07ASMARA764 |
SOMALI SHEIKH HASSAN DAHIR AWEYS MEETS WITH DUTCH [...] (S) On September 26, Netherlands Embassy First Secretary, Robert Lanschot met with CDA and Poloff to share the details of his conversation the week previous with Somali Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Lanschot approached Aweys on September 14 at the closing ceremony of the Somali congress held in [...] |
2007-09-27 14:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PREL PTER UNSC ER SO |
| 07ASMARA776 |
SOURCE INFO ON ALLEGED SUICIDE BOMBERS IN ERITREA [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: RSO met with Source on 10/1/2007 who provided third-hand information on alleged Somali suicide bombers present in Asmara. Source stated a group of young Somalis who have been trained as suicide bombers, are currently resident in Asmara. These Somalis allegedly plan to infil [...] |
2007-10-02 12:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC PTER PREL PGOV PINR ER |
| 07ASMARA800 |
LGF MEMBER ARRESTED DURING ORTHODOX SERVICE [...] (C) SUMMARY: A local guard force (LGF) employee and a priest were picked up by the Eritrean Intelligence Service (ANS) during an Eritrean Orthodox church service on 10/07/07. The priest was released the same day but the LGF employee continues to be held in jail incommunicado. While the Gove [...] |
2007-10-11 12:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF ASEC PGOV SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA801 |
INFORMATION FROM MILITARY DESERTER ON GSE MILITARY [...] (S/NF) An Embassy employee provided RSO with information from a friend who had just deserted from the Eritrean military. Employee stated his friend had been assigned to an armored or mechanized unit near the town of Senafe, located approximately 100 km SE of Asmara. The soldier told employee [...] |
2007-10-11 13:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PINR MOPS ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA815 |
QUARTERLY FRAUD REPORT - ASMARA [...] The following is a summary of fraud conditions experienced during the July to September 2007 period. --------------------------------------------- - COUNTRY CONDITIONS - INCREASING DETERIORIATION --------------------------------------------- - 2. (SBU) The Eritrean economic downward spira [...] |
2007-10-16 06:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA849 |
AFP REPORTER "FROZEN" FOR MENTIONING GSE [...] (C) Days after Reporters without Borders (RSF) declared Eritrea the worst country in the world for press freedom, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) "froze" Agence France-Presse (AFP) stringer and British Citizen Peter Martell, forbidding him from filing stories from Eritrea. Initial [...] |
2007-10-26 08:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KPAO ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA850 |
ASMARA ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: MORE DETAILS EMERGE [...] (S) Summary: As the investigation into the shooting of National Security Agency Deputy Colonel Simon Ghebredenghil continues, an Eritrean businessman believed to be involved in the assassination attempt was shot and killed by Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) officials near the Ethiopian [...] |
2007-10-26 09:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA852 |
ASMARA: DELIVERED: FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-29 09:21:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL MNUC ECON ER |
| 07ASMARA854 |
CDA PROTESTS GSE ALLEGATIONS OF US SUPPORT FOR WAR [...] (U) Eritrean Government media reported on October 26 and 27, that Ethiopia planned an invasion of Eritrea the first week of November with the "blessing of the U.S." In the report, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) alleged that the Tigre People's Liberation Front (TPLF)/Government of [...] |
2007-10-29 12:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA857 |
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION CONTINUES: OVER 45 ERITREANS [...] (C) In an October 29 meeting with Poloff, Reverend Zecharias Abraham(strictly protect) relayed the story of an attempted escape by Mussie Issa, founder of the evangelical group, Youth for Christ, and the subsequent arrests of 45 of his supporters. According to Rev. Zecharias, officials from t [...] |
2007-10-31 12:53:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA858 |
ERITREA: HOST GOVERNMENT PRACTICES: INFORMATION [...] (C) In response to reftel request for information regarding host government practices on information collection, screening and sharing, post provides the following responses. Answers are keyed to headers provided in reftel, paragraph 6. In addition, post advises that bilateral relations bet [...] |
2007-10-31 13:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KVPR PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS ER |
| 07ASMARA860 |
WELL-CONNECTED ERITREAN TALKS OF ERITREA'S [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY. Poloff met October 24 with a well-connected Eritrean-American, and regular contact, who passed second-hand information on the Government of the State of Eritrea's (GSE) war planning efforts and military strategy. According to him, the GSE anticipates that war with Ethiopia is [...] |
2007-11-01 13:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PTER KPKO MOPS ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA869 |
CDA TEMPLATE [...] (C) On October 31, the Immigration Office of the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) delivered a letter to the Catholic Secretariat of Eritrea, informing them that the office would no longer extend the residency and work permits of foreign sisters and priests working in Eritrea under expi [...] |
2007-11-08 07:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER KPKO MOPS ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA870 |
ERITREANS NOTIFIED OF RELATIVES, DEATHS AT W,IA [...] (C) Beginning in September, Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) officials began notifying parents and spouses in Asmara of the deaths of their relatives during the past three to six months in the W'ia military training camp. Going from family to family, GSE military representatives have b [...] |
2007-11-08 08:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ER |
| 07ASMARA871 |
GSE ORDERS CATHOLIC CHURCH FOREIGN STAFF TO LEAVE [...] (C) On October 31, the Immigration Office of the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) delivered a letter to the Catholic Secretariat of Eritrea, informing them that the office would no longer extend the residency and work permits of foreign sisters and priests working in Eritrea under expi [...] |
2007-11-08 08:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI KIRF PHUM ER |
| 07ASMARA874 |
PFDJ CHIEF VIEWS ON SUDAN, THE BORDER AND SOMALIA [...] (C) Summary: On November 8, CDA met at her request with Yemane Ghebreab, Head of the Office of Political Affairs for Eritrea's sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). Discussion topics included the recent UN/AU Darfur meetings in Libya, the Eritrean-Ethiopia [...] |
2007-11-14 10:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO PTER SO SU ER |
| 07ASMARA875 |
SLA-UNITY'S SHARIF HARIR SPEAKS ON SIRTE AND THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a November 9 meeting with Poloff, Sudan Liberation Army-Unity (SLA)Unity) Head for Negotiations Sharif Harir expressed his commitment to engaging in peace negotiations for Darfur and critiqued the process leading up to the Sirte talks. Harir said internal problems within SLA-U [...] |
2007-11-15 04:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO SU ER |
| 07ASMARA888 |
ASMARA EAC MEETING TO REQUEST EXTENSION OF 24/7 [...] (C) SUMMARY: This is an action request for DS. See paragraph 5. EAC met on 11/20/07 to discuss extending the temporary 24/7 residential local guard force (LGF) coverage for all Embassy residences for another three months. EAC members agreed the political/military situation between Ethiopi [...] |
2007-11-21 08:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC AMGT ER |
| 07ASMARA891 |
NO JAIL TIME FOR HUSSEIN AIDEED: SAFELY IN DUBAI [...] No summary [...] |
2007-11-23 07:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL CASC ER ET SO |
| 07ASMARA892 |
MEETING WITH THE SOMAIL EX-MPS: WHAT NEXT FOR THE [...] (C) Following the resignation of Prime Minister Gedi, Poloff met on November 6 with members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS), ex-Parliamentarian Yusuf Hassan Ibrahim and Mohammed Sheikh, assistant to former Speaker of Parliament Sheik Aden. Yusuf, charged with the respon [...] |
2007-11-23 07:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UNSC ER ET SO |
| 07ASMARA896 |
CDA HITS WALL WITH GSE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR [...] (C) On November 19, CDA met at her request with Yemane Ghebremeskel, Director of the Presidency for the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE). CDA expressed her hope that with the November 28 arrival of the new Ambassador, the Embassy could reopen dialogue with the GSE across a range of bi [...] |
2007-11-26 05:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPKO SUR ER |
| 07ASMARA902 |
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION VICTIM STILL HARASSED BY GSE [...] (C) An Embassy locally employed staff member (LES) continues to be harassed by officials of the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE), following his July arrest on religious grounds and release a month later. A member of the unregistered Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, the GSE informed the [...] |
2007-11-27 04:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SOCI KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA907 |
GSE OFFERS HOPE TO CANADIAN MINING COMPANY [...] (U) SUMMARY: Canadian company Nevsun publicly announced on October 29 that it was close to finalizing a mining agreement with the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE), although issues of foreign currency and insurance still remain to be settled. Under this agreement, the GSE, through it [...] |
2007-11-29 12:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ETRD ECON ER |
| 07ASMARA916 |
NO GSE RESPONSE YET TO EEBC DECISION [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has yet to respond officially to the November 30th statement of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC). Many Eritreans anticipated the EEBC would provide much-awaited answers to the ongoing uncertainty about the border and expected that [...] |
2007-12-04 10:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KPKO ER |
| 07ASMARA917 |
ANTI-AMERICAN PFDJ RALLIES IN ASMARA [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY: The People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), Eritrea's regime-affiliated and sole political party, has been holding a series of mandatory mass meetings for all party members in Asmara. An Eritrean who attended one of these meetings relayed to the RSO that the PFDJ tol [...] |
2007-12-04 10:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL ASEC KIRF ER |
| 07ASMARA920 |
ERITREAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON BILATERAL RELATIONS, [...] (C) Summary: "Dialogue is an option, but demarcation is an obligation," said Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed during a November 30 meeting with the Ambassador and DCM. He said that Eritrea "is not supporting al)Shabaab," adding a warning about (purported) Ethiopian misinformati [...] |
2007-12-04 11:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ER ET |
| 07ASMARA930 |
UNMEE MILITARY COMMANDER REPORTS LOWERED TENSION [...] (C) SUMMARY: UNMEE Force Commander Major General Taisir, just back from a two-week visit to the field, reports Eritrean troops are reinforcing defensive positions. He said the near-starvation rations of the conscripted troops have stunted Eritrean military capability. General Taisir said P [...] |
2007-12-10 12:06:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MOPS KPKO ER |
| 07ASMARA931 |
CHINESE IN ERITREA SEEK ACTIVE ROLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea, Shu Zhan, says he and his mission seek to play a more active role in Eritrea than had the Chinese Embassy in the past. Regarding President Isaias' experience in China during the throes of the Cultural Revolution, Shu said that "perhaps he learn [...] |
2007-12-10 12:33:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID EAGR KOLY ER CH |
| 07ASMARA935 |
GSE BLAMES U.S. FOR FOOD AND FUEL SHORTAGES [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) through its sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), continues to conduct community meetings to explain to the Eritrean people the reasons for the shortages of basic food items, such as sugar and flour, as well [...] |
2007-12-12 04:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SOCI ECON ET ER |
| 07ASMARA936 |
LIFTING THE VEIL ON CORRUPTION IN ERITREA [...] (U) INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY: The October 2007 assassination attempt on Colonel Simon Ghebredenghil, the second-in-command at the Government of the State of Eritrea's (GSE) National Security Agency (ANS) lifted a corner on the veil over corrupt activities in Eritrea. The GSE, and many Eritrea [...] |
2007-12-12 04:24:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON ER |
| 07ASMARA945 |
ONE HEART, MANY DIVIDES: ETHNIC AFFILIATION IN ERITREA [...] The shared experience of the 30-year struggle for independence created a strong sense of national identity for most Eritreans. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) promotes Eritrea as having "one heart" or "hade libbi" in Tigrinya - a motto that is seen often in the days leading up to [...] |
2007-12-13 06:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV SOCI ER |
| 07ASMARA950 |
AFP Reporter Ordered to Leave Eritrea [...] (SBU) On December 11, AFP stringer and British national Peter Martell was ordered to appear at the office of Eritrean Minister of Information Ali Abdu to discuss his reporting activities in Eritrea. Mr. Abdu objected to an article Mr. Martell filed on November 22 entitled, "Looming Threat of R [...] |
2007-12-14 05:24:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KPAO PGOV ECPS ER |
| 07ASMARA951 |
GSE FEARS OF INSURGENT ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN ERITREA [...] (S) An Eritrean employee of a mining company recently traveled on business to Zara, located approximately 120 kilometers north of Keren. Provided by the Eritrean military with an armed convoy, the employee reported a tense and nerve-wracking journey due to the fear of insurgent attacks. The t [...] |
2007-12-14 06:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PGOV PINR PTER ASEC ER |
| 07ASMARA954 |
ERITREA'S THREADBARE ECONOMY [...] (C) Summary: As Eritrea's exports total less than USD 20 million per year, how does the government fund one of the largest standing armies in Africa and keep the threadbare, statist economy from collapsing completely? A fairly modest amount of revenue accrues from the two percent diaspora ta [...] |
2007-12-18 12:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL MASS ER |
| 07ASMARA958 |
BLUNT TALK WITH YEMANE GEBREAB ON TERRORISM [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador and DCM met with Yemane Gebreab, chief political advisor to President Isaias, and delivered an unambiguous, tough message about the potential consequences of Eritrea supporting, or allowing its territory to be used to support, extremists with links to terrorism. Ye [...] |
2007-12-20 12:41:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ER |
| 07ASMARA967 |
QUARTERLY FRAUD REPORT - ASMARA [...] The following is a summary of fraud conditions experienced during the October to December 2007 period. ------------------ COUNTRY CONDITIONS ------------------ 2. (SBU) The Government of the State of Eritrea's (GSE) economic policies continue to cause scarcity of goods and impoverishment [...] |
2007-12-27 11:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA102 |
UPDATE: MURDER OF ERITREAN BUSINESSMAN FIKRE [...] (C) A mid-ranking Eritrean National Security Agency (ANS) officer told Emboff how Eritrean businessman Fikremariam Andemariam (Fikre) had been murdered in jail in October 2007, a crime which prompted the later assassination attempt on the Deputy Chief of the ANS overseeing the investigation int [...] |
2008-02-27 12:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM ER |
| 08ASMARA143 |
CARE INTERNATIONAL WILL CLOSE ERITREAN OPERATIONS [...] (U) On March 3, CARE International Country Director Dr. Claudia Futterknecht informed the Eritrean Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare (MLHW) that CARE would cease Eritrean operations in three months. CARE provided a letter to the MLHW stating that its decision to close the office was based o [...] |
2008-03-18 13:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL PGOV ECON ER |
| 08ASMARA155 |
ARS ON AL-SHABAAB, SOMALI RECONCILIATION [...] (C) Summary: Senior members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) warned the ambassador March 19 that the unpopular Ethiopian "occupation" of Somalia is causing Somalis to hail al-Shabaab gunmen as heroes and freedom fighters. The ARS members stressed that al-Shabaab's value [...] |
2008-03-24 12:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PTER SO ER |
| 08ASMARA158 |
SPLM OFFICIAL: ARREST, TORTURE AND POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary: On March 13, DCM met with Amar Najm Eddine al-Jak (Amar), a Khartoum spokesman for the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), who had been spirited from Sudan to Asmara by the SPLM after being arrested and tortured by Sudanese National Security services (reftel). Amar relay [...] |
2008-03-25 11:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM PREF SU ER |
| 08ASMARA160 |
CHINESE REPORTEDLY FUNDING CHADIAN OPPOSITION [...] (C) On March 13, DCM met with Amar Najm Eddine al-Jak (Amar), a Khartoum spokesman for the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), who had been spirited from Sudan to Asmara by the SPLM after being arrested and tortured by Sudanese National Security services (reftel). In the meeting, Am [...] |
2008-03-26 08:45:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SU CD CH ER |
| 08ASMARA161 |
SUDANESE PRISON OFFICIALS HOODWINK AMNESTY [...] (C) On March 13, DCM met with Amar Najm Eddine al-Jak (Amar), a Khartoum spokesman for the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), who had been spirited from Sudan to Asmara by the SPLM after being arrested and tortured by Sudanese National Security services (reftel). In the meeting, Am [...] |
2008-03-26 08:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREF SU ER ET |
| 08ASMARA164 |
Egypt Contemplates Deporting 400 Eritreans [...] (SBU) Ambassador met March 24 with Egyptian Ambassador Ihab Hamouda to discuss the presence of illegal Eritrean immigrants in Egypt, of which Ihab claims there are more than 400. Ihab said the government of Egypt and the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs are discussing a procedure for retu [...] |
2008-03-26 12:53:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL SMIG EG IS ER |
| 08ASMARA18 |
UNMEE FUEL UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: UNMEE Force Commander Major General Mohammad Taisir (protect) estimates UNMEE can continue operations at the current reduced levels until January 31. After that UNMEE would have to dip into its strategic fuel reserve, which Taisir said is only sufficient to move UNMEE's troops ba [...] |
2008-01-14 08:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PBTS PREL MOPS ASEC ER ET XW |
| 08ASMARA187 |
GSE PAYS NEVSUN 25 MILLION FROM CHINESE LOAN [...] (SBU) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) paid Nevsun A $25 million down payment for purchasing a 30% stake in the Bisha mining project, according to Nevsun and Bisha Mining Share Company General Manager Stan Rogers (please protect). Rogers said the GSE paid with a partial distributi [...] |
2008-04-03 14:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EMIN ECON PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA188 |
LIGHTS FOR ALL, BREAD FOR THE SELECT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) is investing its limited resources heavily in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, for the rural sector. At the same time, the rural sector is most heavily hit by shortages of staples such as wheat and flour, creatin [...] |
2008-04-03 14:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ENRG EAID PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA19 |
ERITREAN REPATRIATIONS AND IDP RESETTLEMENT [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea ICRC Head of Delegation Catherine Deman (strictly protect) told the ambassador January 4 that her organization in the past twelve months has assisted in reducing the number of Eritrean internally displaced persons (IDP) from 30,000 to 5,000 and that in December around 40 [...] |
2008-01-14 08:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM EAID PREL ICRC ER ET XW |
| 08ASMARA197 |
GSE CHRONICALLY LATE REPAYING WORLD BANK [...] (SBU) World Bank (WB) Country Manager for Eritrea Chris Lovelace (strictly protect) told Emboff the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) came within mere days of being 60 days past due on a repayment to the WB for the second consecutive time. The first late payment was made "less than a w [...] |
2008-04-04 07:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EFIN EAID ER |
| 08ASMARA198 |
RARE INSIGHTS FROM PFDJ INSIDER [...] (C) Summary: Hagos Ghebrehiwot gave subtle signals to the ambassador that the Eritreans were ready to work with, rather than against, the United States on bilateral and regional interests. Considered to be strictly the bagman and CEO of party-run enterprises, Hagos displayed surprising poli [...] |
2008-04-04 08:45:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON ER |
| 08ASMARA2 |
LIBYANS IN ERITREA [...] (C) We're Number One ------------------------ Libya has recently increased by 400% its diplomatic presence in Eritrea (up from 7 to 28 diplomats), making the Libyan Arab Brotherhood Bureau the largest diplomatic mission in Asmara, surpassing in size even the embassy of the former colonial p [...] |
2008-01-02 06:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LY ER |
| 08ASMARA20 |
SUSPICIOUS NASAIR [...] (C) An Asmara-based European ambassador told the ambassador January 11 that Nasair, a relatively new and shadowy airline based in Massawa, Eritrea, is owned and controlled by Sudanese intelligence. Nasair, which operates scheduled flights to Kenya, Sudan, Chad, and UAE, is a registered Eritre [...] |
2008-01-14 10:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR PTER PREL ER SU XW |
| 08ASMARA204 |
FRAUD SUMMARY - ASMARA [...] The following is a summary of fraud conditions experienced during the January to March 2008 period. Point of contact is Conoff Brian Shelbourn, shelbournbl@state.gov, 291-1-12-00-04. ---------------------------- 2. (SBU) COUNTRY CONDITIONS ---------------------------- The Government o [...] |
2008-04-09 14:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA205 |
CATHOLIC CHURCH WINS A ROUND [...] (C) A Catholic priest at Asmara's Cathedral told PolOff April 8 that the GSE has issued seminary students identification cards exempting them from national service. This recent policy represents an about-face by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE), who months earlier threatened to sei [...] |
2008-04-10 06:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PHUM SOCI PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA207 |
PFDJ INVADES THE SCHOOLS [...] (SBU) On March 26, the American School in Asmara implemented its first mandatory political-education meeting, a new requirement directed by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE). These meetings are instituted by the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), the nation's sole po [...] |
2008-04-11 07:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PROP PHUM ER |
| 08ASMARA211 |
PFDJ MONEY-MAN SPEAKS ON ERITREA'S WAR ECONOMY [...] (C) People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) money-man Hagos "The Sack" Ghebrehiwot told the ambassador on April 2 that Eritrea's current economic polices are "directly tied to the situation" on the border rather than driven by Marxist ideology, and that Eritrea's economy must remain on [...] |
2008-04-15 07:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA212 |
3,225 CHRISTIANS IN PRISON (AND COUNTING) [...] (C) SUMMARY: Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church met with PolOff on April 10 to discuss the status of the Christian churches in Eritrea. Rev. Zecharias provided updated numbers on imprisoned Christians, and his views on the new G [...] |
2008-04-15 12:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA220 |
ARS DIVIDED ON COOPERATING WITH UNITED STATES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Following the March 31-April 4 meeting of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) leaders in Nairobi with Embassy officials (reftel), the ARS leaders have made a concerted effort to align the Asmara-based membership towards a cooperative stance with the United States. [...] |
2008-04-22 08:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PINR ER SO |
| 08ASMARA221 |
WFP'S ASMARA OFFICE DOWNSIZES TO PRESENCE POST [...] (SBU) World Food Program (WFP) Country Director Rahman Chowdhury paid a farewell visit to the ambassador on April 16 to discuss the downsizing of WFP's presence and food security in Eritrea. Chowdhury said the WFP will convert its office from program facilitation to a presence post, given the [...] |
2008-04-22 15:32:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID EAGR PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA223 |
MFA ASSERTS GSE WILLINGNESS FOR REGIONAL [...] (SBU) Ambassador and Director of East African Affairs James Knight met on April 17 with Eritrea's Acting Foreign Minister, Fessehazion Petros, to discuss bilateral relations and regional dynamics. Knight emphasized the need for Eritrea to lift restrictions on Embassy Asmara and stressed the i [...] |
2008-04-23 05:51:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KREC ER ET |
| 08ASMARA225 |
EC SHEDS LIGHT ON CONFISCATED FOOD AID [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: European Commission (EC) First Secretary Stephane Halgand (protect) told Emboffs the EC, with the full cooperation of the Eritrean government, is reviewing the seizing of 12,500 metric tons (MT) of its food aid in spring 2006. The review will likely recommend retroactively ame [...] |
2008-04-23 12:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID EAGR PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA227 |
DJIBOUTI AMBASSADOR ON BORDER TENSION [...] (C) Somalia and the Eritrea)Djibouti Border: --------------------------------------------- --- "The Somali problem is not foreign to the border issue," claims Djibouti's ambassador to Eritrea. Ambassador Ahmed Issa Gabobeh, the dean of Asmara's diplomatic corps, warned against applying rat [...] |
2008-04-23 13:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS ER DJ |
| 08ASMARA228 |
PFDJ VOICES OPINIONS ON BORDER AND SOMALIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador and Director of East African Affairs James Knight met on April 18 with Yemane Ghebreab, head of Political Affairs for the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), Eritrea's ruling (and sole) political party. Yemane reiterated the two main points made in Knigh [...] |
2008-04-23 14:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV KREC ER ET SO |
| 08ASMARA233 |
ASMARA DAO NEARS APRIL 30 DEADLINE [...] Embassy Asmara has informed Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in person and in writing that, absent a positive indication by April 30 that Eritrea wishes to maintain a military-to-military relationship, Post will begin the definitive suspension of its Defense Attache's Office. Should the [...] |
2008-04-24 12:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MARR AMGT ER |
| 08ASMARA235 |
ANOTHER NGO CONTEMPLATING LEAVING ERITREA [...] (C) The Lutheran World Foundation (LWF), one of the few remaining non-governmental organizations operating in Eritrea, may close its doors in the upcoming year if the operating environment worsens, stated representative Jan Schutte on April 10. Schutte commented on the extreme difficulties i [...] |
2008-04-29 12:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID ER |
| 08ASMARA236 |
RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES - ERITREA [...] (SBU) The following answers are keyed to reftel. Point of contact is Brian Shelbourn, shelbournbl@state.gov, 291-1-120004. ---------------- 2. (SBU) DEMAND ---------------- Wheat, sorghum, and teff are the most important agricultural commodities in Eritrea and are extremely scarce. W [...] |
2008-04-29 13:10:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA240 |
RESPONSE: CHINA'S ENGAGEMENT IN ERITREA [...] (SBU) CHINESE ENGAGEMENT IN ERITREA --------------------------------------- The relationship between the Government of China (GOC) and the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) is strong. President Isaias visited President Hu during the China-Africa Summit in November 2006. During a Ja [...] |
2008-05-02 09:52:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EFIN EMIN PREL ER |
| 08ASMARA247 |
ERITREA PLANS TO SEEK FULL MEMBERSHIP IN ARAB [...] (C) Eritrea plans to seek full membership in the Arab League and to sponsor a "new generation of opposition" in Darfur, according to an Asmara-based Egyptian diplomat. 2. (C) On May 2, Egyptian Political Chief Hassam Abdallah Nooreldin (Hassam) briefed DCM on a meeting several days prior be [...] |
2008-05-06 14:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SU ER |
| 08ASMARA248 |
ERITREA - MAJOR AUSTRALIAN GOLD STRIKE [...] (SBU) Summary: Australia's Sub-Sahara Resources exploration company reports it has discovered a deposit of 1.04 million ounces of gold in north-central Eritrea worth one billion dollars at today's prices (about equal to Eritrea's GDP). This gold deposit is similar in size to the Vancouver-ba [...] |
2008-05-07 09:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ECON PGOV PINS PREL ER |
| 08ASMARA249 |
ARS READY TO TALK [...] (C) SUMMARY: The leadership of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) is committed to UN-brokered discussions with representatives of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) scheduled to commence May 10 in Djibouti. Their willingness to enter into these talks should not be mis [...] |
2008-05-07 14:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SO DJ |
| 08ASMARA25 |
PUBLIC BEATING BY EDF SOLDIERS [...] (C) Embassy source informed A/PolOff that she witnessed the severe beating of a young Eritrean male in the compound of a small military camp near the Orota Hospital in Asmara on the evening of January 11, 2008. The exterior gates of this military compound are always partially open due to the f [...] |
2008-01-16 13:35:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV MOPS ER |
| 08ASMARA252 |
SANU RESOURCES' MINING PROSPECTS [...] (SBU) Summary: Canada's Sanu Resources exploration company reported successful drilling results indicating large deposits of copper and zinc near Nevsun's Bisha Mining Project (reftel A). Only a small amount of gold was also discovered at this site, but Sanu anticipates "finding more gold ne [...] |
2008-05-09 08:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ECON PGOV PINR PREL ER |
| 08ASMARA253 |
NEW GSE MACHINATIONS WITH DARFUR OPPOSITION [...] (C) Summary. Eritrea is seeking to create a "new generation of opposition" in Darfur, according to an Asmara-based Egyptian diplomat. His assertion was supported by a Sudanese Embassy officer in a subsequent meeting, who viewed the latest GSE initiative with indifference. End Summary. ER [...] |
2008-05-09 09:46:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SU ER |
| 08ASMARA254 |
ERITREA PESSIMISTIC ON SUDAN'S CPA [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea's point man on Sudan, Abdella Jabir, believes "the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) will not succeed because the SPLM's leadership is weak." He revealed that Eritrea has 40 monitors on the Chad-Sudan border and commented that Libya is "unreliable" as its priorities shift [...] |
2008-05-12 14:49:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU SO |
| 08ASMARA258 |
ERITREA'S DIESEL DIET [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Diesel fuel remains an extremely scarce commodity in Eritrea. UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have not received their diesel allocations from the Eritrean government since April 10. Many of the Eritrean government's civilian vehicles are [...] |
2008-05-14 07:47:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENER PINR ER |
| 08ASMARA26 |
TWO UNMEE DRIVERS CONSCRIPTED INTO EDF [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-16 13:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM KPKO ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA264 |
ERITREA AND SAUDI ARABIA MEND TIES, A BIT [...] (C) ERITREA SEEKS REGIONAL COOPERATION: President Isaias' April 27 long-sought audience with King Abdullah began with an Eritrean request for close cooperation on Somalia, Sudan-Chad, and Darfur, according to the Saudi ambassador in Asmara, Nasser M. Al-Reshaidan. Expressing disappointment w [...] |
2008-05-14 13:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ER SA |
| 08ASMARA266 |
ANOTHER ASMARA LIBERATION DAY: ROUND-UPS AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Within the last two weeks, Embassy Asmara has noticed a substantial increase in military presence and citizen round-ups, as well as anti-U.S. sentiments voiced by President Isaias Afwerki in the lead-up to the May 24 Liberation Day celebration. End Summary. NO ID EQUALS "VERY [...] |
2008-05-15 14:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PROP PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA269 |
SHEIKH AWEYS: LIVE FROM ASMARA [...] (SBU) Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys led a televised press conference with Al-Jazeera in Asmara on May 15. In the conference, Aweys condemned the members of the Asmara-based Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) who traveled to Djibouti for UN-brokered discussions with Somali's Transitio [...] |
2008-05-19 13:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PINR SO ER |
| 08ASMARA27 |
CODEL PAYNE MEETS SOMALI ARS REPRESENTATIVES [...] (U) Summary. On January 4 CODEL Payne met with five representatives of the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) at the Intercontinental Hotel in Asmara. ARS members stated their views of U.S. policies in the Horn of Africa, the reasons for and consequences of the Ethiopian invasion [...] |
2008-01-17 08:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PGOV PREL PTER ER SO |
| 08ASMARA275 |
ISAIAS VISITS IRAN; GARNERS ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS [...] (SBU) President Isaias Afwerki's May 19-20 state visit to Tehran and meetings with Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have received front page coverage in the Eritrean government-controlled media. President Isaias' visit included an interview with Iran's Press TV, the ful [...] |
2008-05-22 14:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR IR ER |
| 08ASMARA277 |
DETAINED EGYPTIAN SAILORS RETURN HOME [...] (C) On May 21, Egyptian DCM Hassam Abdallah Nooreldin told Poloff that the 40 Egyptian sailors, who were arrested in spring 2007 and detained for a year in the port city of Massawa by the Eritrean government, have finally been released and returned to Egypt. The sailors were never charged wit [...] |
2008-05-23 06:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM CASC EG ER |
| 08ASMARA29 |
ASMARA - UNMEE COMBATING SEA AND TIP [...] (U) Per Reftel A, the following is Post's Sexual Expolitation and Abuse (SEA) and Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report. 2. (SBU) There continue to be very few reported cases of either SEA or TIP involving UN Peacekeeping Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) personnel in Eritrea. The Chie [...] |
2008-01-17 13:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PREL ER |
| 08ASMARA290 |
GSE ACTIVELY SEEKS TO DIVIDE ARS [...] (C) Summary: A Finnish Parliamentarian who recently travelled from meetings with Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) members in Djibouti to meet with ARS members in Asmara emphasized that both sides expressed their desire to reunite. However, Asmara members have been discouraged f [...] |
2008-05-29 14:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SO ER |
| 08ASMARA300 |
ERITREA - NO FUEL BY JULY? [...] (C/NF) Summary: Eritrea has fuel reserves of only one month, and poor prospects for purchasing more, according to Total's Managing Director in Eritrea. Eritrea's Kuwaiti suppliers reportedly have not been paid since December 2007, and will not supply more fuel until the government makes paym [...] |
2008-06-04 18:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON PGOV PREL ENRG PINR ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA304 |
THE ROUNDABOUT METHOD OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM [...] (C) Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church informed PolOff during a late May meeting of the manner in which information from Compass Direct is verified. (Note: Compass Direct is a Christian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that docu [...] |
2008-06-10 10:49:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF SF ER |
| 08ASMARA305 |
REPORTED EXECUTION OF ERITREAN SOLDIERS AS "AN [...] (C/NF) A local employee (LES) told RSO that ten Eritrean soldiers were summarily executed after a group of soldiers complained about the lack of food. According to the LES, the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) were conducting field exercises last week in the village of Tukul, located approximatel [...] |
2008-06-10 13:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | MOPS PGOV PINS ASEC PINR ER |
| 08ASMARA306 |
ANTI-U.S. SENTIMENTS MARK ANOTHER ERITREAN [...] (SBU) Summary: As in the past two years, President Isaias used the May 24 Eritrean Liberation Day festivities to lambast the U.S. Administration for its policies on the Eritrean-Ethiopian border and in the Horn of Africa, and to blame the United States for virtually all economic and political [...] |
2008-06-10 14:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PROP SOCI ER |
| 08ASMARA309 |
ARS REJECTIONISTS TO RALLY IN ASMARA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) who reject the June 9 reconciliation agreement with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) reportedly will hold a conference in Asmara on June 15 in an attempt to unseat Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as ARS leader - t [...] |
2008-06-11 09:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SO ER |
| 08ASMARA311 |
BORDER CLASH - MUM'S THE WORD IN ASMARA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Eritrean government, party, media, and military officials are maintaining complete silence on the June 10-11 border clashes with Djibouti. No Eritrean media outlets have reported the incidents and the citizenry of Asmara are going about their daily routines in grim normalcy. Th [...] |
2008-06-11 13:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS PBTS ER DJ |
| 08ASMARA312 |
ERITREAN FUEL DYNAMICS [...] Summary: A confluence of internal and external factors has resulted in a diesel fuel shortage in Eritrea since December. The overall quantity of fuel imports, most especially diesel and gasoline, have declined over the past five years. Eritrea continues to subsidize the sale of diesel, in [...] |
2008-06-12 08:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG PINR ER |
| 08ASMARA313 |
ASSAB - ERITREA'S USELESS PORT [...] (C) UNMEE Chief of Mission Support Maurice Critchley (protect) informed Emboff the port of Assab may be unusable. In the course of his duties with UNMEE, Critchley has transited Assab numerous times when traveling by UN flights between Eritrea and Ethiopia. (Note: UNMEE's flight between Erit [...] |
2008-06-12 11:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT ECON PINR PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA314 |
SUDAN TO PROVIDE FUEL TO ERITREA [...] (C) Sudan will provide fuel-starved Eritrea with substantial quantities of refined product "probably within the next two weeks," according to Sudan's ambassador in Asmara, Salah El-Hassen. 2. (C) El-Hassen commented June 11 to the ambassador that Sudanese refineries at Port Sudan and near [...] |
2008-06-12 14:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL ER SU |
| 08ASMARA315 |
ISAIAS HOLDS A GRUDGE [...] (C) WHY ERITREA IS BEING SO STUBBORN: In mid-April, just as the tension on the Eritrea-Djibouti border was first rising, President Isaias telephoned President Guelleh and suggested that the two of them work together to resolve the issue, according to Yemane Ghebreab, the Eritrean ruling party [...] |
2008-06-12 15:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER DJ SO SU |
| 08ASMARA317 |
SUNRIDGE STRIKES GOLD NEAR ASMARA [...] (SBU) Vancouver-based Sunridge Gold Corporation of Eritrea chief engineer David Doud (protect) told Conoff of a large discovery of gold, silver, copper, and zinc at Adi Nefas, 4 miles northwest of Asmara. Doud conservatively estimated gross revenues from the find at around $1 billion, less ca [...] |
2008-06-13 06:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EMIN ER |
| 08ASMARA320 |
GSE'S LATEST HARASSMENT OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to harass both approved and compliant (registered, but not yet approved), religious groups. On June 5, the Eritrean military expropriated property of the Catholic Church near the Expo circle in Asmara. The Church was reportedly given [...] |
2008-06-13 09:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF ER |
| 08ASMARA322 |
ERITREA'S FUNCTIONAL YET TEETERING ELECTRICAL [...] (SBU) Summary: Eritrea's electrical system provided remarkable electricity availability to communities connected to the main grid for several years. Without expensive overhauls of the seven main heavy fuel oil (HFO) fired generators during the next few years, however, Eritrea can expect bro [...] |
2008-06-16 13:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PINR ER |
| 08ASMARA324 |
EGYPT'S ERITREAN DEPORTEES LAND IN MASSAWA [...] (C) Summary: Embassy inquiries regarding Egypt's deportation of Eritreans were met with deception, lack of knowledge, and surprising openness from different sources. A well-placed Embassy source informed Emboffs of Egypt Air's deportation flights to Massawa, a location more concealed for Eg [...] |
2008-06-17 14:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL SU EG ER |
| 08ASMARA325 |
PRESIDENT ISAIAS - BREAD AND PASTA ARE LUXURIES [...] (SBU) Summary: President Isaias Afwerki appeared to be preparing the Eritrean people for future reduced supplies of basic foodstuffs in recent interviews and speeches, including his May 24 Liberation Day address. High import costs and heavy subsidies have combined to lead Eritrea's command ec [...] |
2008-06-18 09:14:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID EAGR PGOV ER |
| 08ASMARA328 |
ERITREA GARNERS MORE MONEY FROM THE EC [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 15, President Isaias Afwerki met with Louis Michel, European Commission (EC) Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, to discuss plans for further development aid to Eritrea. Michel reportedly broached several topics of humanitarian and diplomatic concern with a [...] |
2008-06-19 08:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAID PREL PHUM ER DJ |
| 08ASMARA33 |
WHAT,S ERITREA UP TO IN SUDAN? [...] (C) Summary: Finnish MP and former EC Special Envoy for Sudan Pekka Havisto told the ambassador January 18 that Eritrea is working to help fulfill the "Garang Dream" in Sudan, wherein marginalized people in the South, East, and in Darfur cooperate to counterbalance the National Congress Party [...] |
2008-01-23 13:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
| 08ASMARA330 |
AVIATION FUEL STATUS IN ERITREA [...] (C/NF) RSO met with UNMEE Source who provided information on the current low levels of aviation fuel in Asmara. This source by virtue of his position at UNMEE has been able to inspect the fuel tanks at the Asmara International Airport and regularly receives updates on aviation fuel in Asmara [...] |
2008-06-23 14:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ENRG ECON MOPS ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA332 |
MEETING WITH ERITREAN SOLDIERS IN ASSAB [...] (S/NF) RSO source relayed the following second-hand information provided by a member of the Eritrean National Security Agency. According to source, an unidentified group of Eritrean military colonels and one general went to Assab from 06/20-21/08 to meet with a group of approximately 200 Erit [...] |
2008-06-24 11:47:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | MOPS PREL PGOV ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA334 |
OLF CLAIMS TO BE FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY [...] (C) Summary: The Chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Daawud Ibsa, believes his organization's support among Ethiopia's largest ethnic group bodes well for the OLF's chances in the event of fair elections in Ethiopia. He complained to the ambassador June 19 that PM Meles has failed [...] |
2008-06-24 14:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PREL PGOV KDEM ER ET |
| 08ASMARA337 |
ERITREAN FUEL AND ELECTRICITY: FROM BAD TO WORSE [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea's electricity supplier announced that on June 27 electricity supplies in Asmara will shut down for 11 hours per day for an indefinite period. A run on gasoline occurred on June 26, leading filling stations to suspend servicing customers. All forms of cooking fuel remai [...] |
2008-06-26 13:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG PINR ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA339 |
UPDATE ON UNMEE OPERATIONS IN ASMARA [...] (C) UNMEE Deputy Chief Security Officer (DCSO) provided RSO and UK Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) with an update June 30 on UNMEE operations in Eritrea. UNMEE has ceased operations in Assab and UNMEE flights are no longer stopping there to refuel. After an approximately two-month wait, the Eri [...] |
2008-06-30 13:44:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS KPKO PREL PGOV ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA341 |
DIASPORA YOUTH WARY OF MILITARY TRAINING CAMPS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The number of Eritrean diaspora youth volunteering to spend part of their summer in the Sawa military training camp has significantly declined in recent years. Conditions in the military camps remain poor while reports of abuse and death of those conscripted continue to surface. [...] |
2008-07-03 07:52:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM ER |
| 08ASMARA343 |
POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH KEREN LEADERS DURING [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-07 07:33:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI ER |
| 08ASMARA345 |
IS ISAIAS UNHINGED? [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: A well-connected businessman of Eritrean origin claims that President Isaias Afwerki is mentally ill and that his disastrous governance is generating concern among powerful actors within the Eritrean establishment. The businessman predicts Isaias will attempt to appease popul [...] |
2008-07-08 13:22:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PGOV AMED PINR ER |
| 08ASMARA346 |
FRAUD SUMMARY - ASMARA [...] The following is a summary of fraud conditions experienced during the April to June 2008 period. Point of contact is Conoff Brian Shelbourn, shelbournbl@state.gov, 291-1-12-00-04. ---------------------------- 2. (SBU) COUNTRY CONDITIONS ---------------------------- The Government of th [...] |
2008-07-08 14:10:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA348 |
A RARE, CIVIL CT RESPONSE FROM ERITREA [...] (SBU) Like NASA firing blind probes into Deep Space, Embassy Asmara dutifully transmits counter-terrorism designations and related demarches to the government of Eritrea. It has been several years since Post has received even acknowledgement, let alone a response, from our non-communicative h [...] |
2008-07-10 12:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PTER PREL ER |
| 08ASMARA349 |
IMPRISONED FSN RELEASED [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with former local guard Aklilu Yohannes (strictly protect) on July 9, who was imprisoned underground for nearly a year without charge. Aklilu was additionally imprisoned for 12 days in 2005 for belonging to an unregistered church. While in prison, Aklilu reports b [...] |
2008-07-11 06:53:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV APER KIRF SOCI ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA353 |
MYSTERY SURROUNDS ERITREAN DEPORTEES FROM EGYPT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Mystery and conflicting statements continue to surround the status of the Eritreans recently deported from Egypt (reftel). While the UNHCR reports that some have been returned to their homes and some returned to national service, the MFA insists that each individual has been safel [...] |
2008-07-15 07:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PGOV SOCI ER |
| 08ASMARA356 |
CARGIL'S BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN ERITREA [...] (SBU) Cargil's business activities are thriving in Eritrea, according to Redaegzy Gebremedhin (protect), the company's Eritrean representative. Cargil has operated in Eritrea since 1998, and sold 250,000 tons of grain, sugar, and other agricultural commodities to Eritrea in 2007. It is likel [...] |
2008-07-16 08:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ER |
| 08ASMARA359 |
NO WAY TO RUN A HOTEL IN ERITREA [...] (C) SUMMARY. Asmara's Intercontinental Hotel is often seen as a beacon of modernity, efficiency, and comfort in an otherwise bleak Eritrean landscape. However, the Intercon's newly arrived expatriate manager (protect), in a July 17 meeting with the ambassador and A/DCM, painted a dire picture [...] |
2008-07-21 07:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON BEXP ER |
| 08ASMARA361 |
PEACEBUILDING WORKSHOPS GAINING MOMENTUM [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Peacebuilding Center for the Horn of Africa (PCHA) hosted its third Embassy-sponsored workshop for eastern Sudanese participants during the week of June 21-27. The week-long workshop included lively presentations, discussions, simulations, and lectures. The most recent worksh [...] |
2008-07-21 07:58:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SOCI SU ER |
| 08ASMARA362 |
ERITREA TEMPORARILY AVOIDS FUEL CRISIS [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea managed to avoid an electricity supply disaster in June by finding a new supplier of generator lubricant. An unknown supplier is sending a barge to restock Eritrea's depleted automotive and aviation fuel supplies. Embassy Asmara will receive its diesel fuel the week of [...] |
2008-07-21 08:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ENRG PINR ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA363 |
COOKING FUEL SHORTAGES MET WITH RATIONING [...] (C) Kerosene, used extensively for cooking in Eritrea, was distributed at market prices until April, but is now available only with a ration card. This is similar to other commodities, such as food staples, automotive diesel, and liquid propane. Families are limited to one gallon per month, [...] |
2008-07-22 05:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG ER |
| 08ASMARA364 |
ERITREA'S DYSFUNCTIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY [...] (SBU) Summary: The "temporary" measures which constricted the activities of Eritrea's private construction and contracting companies in 2006 continue, and have effectively squeezed the private sector out of business, according to a member of the European Commission (EC). Eritrean constructio [...] |
2008-07-22 05:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EIND EAID ELAB PINR ER |
| 08ASMARA365 |
INSIGHTS ON ERTIREA'S FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM [...] (C) Summary: Total's Manager in Eritrea described an inefficient fuel distribution system being hamstrung by state control. Desire to dominate and control all aspects of the economy led to the rejection of mutually beneficial proposals to relieve Eritrea's diesel shortage. Total is breaking [...] |
2008-07-22 05:32:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG ER |
| 08ASMARA366 |
ASMARA,S UNFAIR EGYPTIAN TRADE FAIR [...] (C) SUMMARY: An Egyptian trade fair in Asmara concluded July 18, after a week-long shopping frenzy generated by Eritreans restricted by their tyrannical government from traveling abroad or buying almost anything in Eritrea. The regime extracted a high price from Egypt for agreeing to allow t [...] |
2008-07-22 12:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ERTD PREL PGOV EG ER |
| 08ASMARA368 |
ARS HARDLINERS SELECT SHEIKH AWEYS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation for Somalia (ARS) who oppose the June 9 Djibouti reconciliation accords met in Asmara July 3 - 22. Claiming to represent the ARS Central Committee, the militant ARS faction selected Sheikh Aweys as its leader, purported to have expell [...] |
2008-07-23 13:46:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SO |
| 08ASMARA369 |
ANOTHER RELIGIOUS PRISONER DIES [...] (C) Deaths reportedly continue in the Wi'a military camp as religious, political, and other prisoners are either beaten, starved, or denied medical treatment. Reverend Zecharias Abreham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Church informed PolOff July 23 that an imprisoned woman [...] |
2008-07-23 14:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KIRF ER |
| 08ASMARA37 |
Massawa Free Zone [...] Summary: On January 9, Ambassador and Poloff toured the future Massawa Free Zone with Issayas Ghebregziabiher, Eritrean Free Zone Area Coordinator. Recent building activity was evident although Issayas cited slow progress in building the necessary infrastructure to allow companies to begin o [...] |
2008-01-28 11:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV ETRD ER |
| 08ASMARA370 |
VIEWS OF AN ERITREAN OPPOSITION LEADER [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: The two senior Eritrean opposition figures in Asmara are both wealthy businessmen, one of whom is a prominent ex-fighter and the husband of a cabinet minister. Both are sympathetic to the Addis Ababa-based Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA). In their view, the regime is unit [...] |
2008-07-24 11:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM PREL ER |
| 08ASMARA371 |
THE SAD STORY OF FORMER EMBASSY ASMARA LES DANIEL [...] (C) Summary: In May, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ, the ruling political party of Eritrea) called the Embassy to request the dismissal of its employee, Daniel Haile. The Embassy refused to accede to the request and protested the action to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [...] |
2008-07-25 07:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | SECRET | PHUM PGOV APER KSOCI KIRF ASEC ER |
| 08ASMARA375 |
BIO INFORMATION OF SIX SOMALI HARDLINERS [...] (C) The Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) hardline faction in Asmara, now led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, sent a six-person delegation to Yemen from July 3 to July 18 to purportedly foster dialogue and reconciliation between the Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Sharif faction and the Aweys [...] |
2008-07-28 14:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PINR PREL SO ER |
| 08ASMARA376 |
GSE CONFISCATES $20,000 FROM AMCIT [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) confiscated $21,700 from an Eritrean-American who arrived in Asmara June 22. The AmCit declared $2,000 at the airport and was later pulled into a side room along with other passengers where they were told "now is the time to declare any other mo [...] |
2008-07-29 12:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV EFIN ER |
| 08ASMARA38 |
INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT 2008 [...] The following responses are keyed to reftel paragraph 15. Post submitted the 2006 Investment Climate Statement by email only, thus no reftel. ------------------------------ Openness to Foreign Investment ------------------------------ 2. Eritrea remains a strict command economy, pushi [...] |
2008-01-28 11:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV USTR OPIC ER |
| 08ASMARA384 |
JEM IN ERTIREA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) maintains a liaison office in Asmara headed by Osman Wash, JEM's Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs. A number of JEM "former fighters" also reside in Eritrea. JEM is reportedly seeking to persuade Eritrea to host a Sudanese all- [...] |
2008-08-05 11:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS ER SU |
| 08ASMARA385 |
CHINESE MOVE INTO ERITREA'S MINING SECTOR [...] SUMMARY: Two Chinese mining companies have received exploration licenses from the government of Eritrea in the past eight months. One of these license areas is situated in the former Temporary Security Zone from which Eritrea forced UNMEE peacekeepers | ||||