At UN, Djibouti Admits French Copter Flights, Blames Eritrea for Shoot-outs, Distributes Photos
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS, June 24 — The standoff between Djibouti and Eritrea was explained, at least by Djibouti, on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said Eritrea’s motive is to gain control of a military position and associated waterway at Doumeira. While advancing on the position, according to Youssouf, scores of Eritrean soldiers deserted. That, he said, was when the shooting started on June 10, implying that Eritrea fired at its own defecting troops. Djibouti responded, and soon there were deaths and captured soldiers on both sides.
Inner City Press asked Minister Youssouf about Eritrea’s claim that French helicopters landed on or near its territory, and that an Eritrean speedboat was recently sunk, allegedly by non-Djiboutian forces. To his credit, Youssouf did not dodge these questions. Video here. He acknowledged that a French helicopter had carried him, his President and Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita to the disputed area, so they could see for themselves. He agreed that an Eritrean speedboat was recently sunk, but said that Djibouti itself has been responsible. He said that a Velo-bound, hundred-some page pamphlet prepared for submission to the Security Council on Tuesday afternoon contained proof and even photos of all this.
Eritrea – Ethiopia border, per UN — Doumeira and even-handedness not shown
Inner City Press obtained a copy of the pamphlet, which strangely is dated February 2008, before the conflict at issue. The timeline inside, however, contains Djibouti’s version of events, sometimes by the hour. On June 10 at 12:30, “the Eritrean troops opened fire to stop (“empecher”) their soldiers from deserting,” the Djiboutian presentation says. At 6:40 p.m., “the hour of prayer,” the Eritreans again opened fire, the pamphlet continues.
What is Eritrea’s side of the story? It appears that Eritrea will not make a presentation to the Council on Tuesday afternoon. To the President of Yemen, Ali Abdallah Salih, Eritrea has called the conflict a “fabrication,” and has blamed it on the United States. There are reports that the U.S. plans a second base in Djibouti, closer to Eritrean territory.
Inner City Press asked Minister Youssouf how much of the conflict may spring from Djibouti having hosted Somali talks between the Transitional Federal Government and portions of the Alliance to Re-liberate Somalia which have since left Asmara. Youssouf acknowledged some connection or effect, speculating that Eritrea is against peace in Somalia because it wants Ethiopian troops to have to remain there. Since Eritrea has not held a UN press conference, we must look elsewhere their views. According to reports, they have said there’d be peace if Djibouti “takes its hands off the affairs of the Somali opposition, and if the U.S. pressures Ethiopia to vacate Eritrean territories based on the ruling of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission.”
Djibouti is putting the matter before the Security Council, supported by France and the U.S..
Update: after the Council’s session, Inner City Press asked U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff if the U.S. intends to build a second base in Djibouti. Video here. Not that I know of, Wolff said, while the U.S. Mission’s Deputy Spokesman suggested asking the Pentagon, not the State Department. Inner City Press asked French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert about his country’s helicopter shuttling Djibouti’s leaders to the Eritrean border. We have a defense agreement, he said, adding that everything they do is at the request of Djibouti. Video here. Okay then. We will continue to follow these issues
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If the UN has functioning properly first of all they must have to think why has happening this crises taking places in Djibouti? why has very hasting blaming occurred and creating crises and making have voices? Why this actors has choice Eritrea in this horn a spade goat? The answer is very clear the agenda of Woyane and its collaborates are never cease until now to solve problems by peaceful manner and had not have the venue of peace in their agenda and are not wiling to admit their failerity.
I think this whole story stinks, first of all Djibouti doesn’t have any issue with Eritrea, either in border or any other issues.
However, it took unrepresented stand with Woyanes who are committing genocide and tribalism in Ethiopia where millions of people are dying like insects. The suffering and misery of Ethiopian people will some how will overcome as it has do so over the years.
The current Djibouti accusations are really baseless and some how the foreign mister of Djibouti looks like he is not even fit for his purpose. Does he really know, what he is talking about? He just said Djibouti attacked Eritrea, and Eritrea was only shooting at their deserters. what a joke!
Even the security council would be a joke if they involve is such mickey mouse games, which by any standards reflect the real issue with Djibouti. It has never been given any chance to talk to the security council on any matter before so this time they felt they are doing something special or interesting to the dismay of the world population.
The determination and power of Eritrea’s are really built over the decade through hard, resent less effort at the cost of thousands of its young children, which Djibouti really do not understand. If Eritrean had any ambition about land in Djibouti they should destroyed it within seconds not days.
Kat is really working in the head. We will pray for them one day to come up to their senses. Remember Djibouti is geographically located in Africa not in France or America.
I am sick and tried of about this Eritrea and Djibouti issue. Why are the Djibouti government crying loud in such manner. Do they have something to hide.
I really praise the patience and restraint shown by the Government of Eritrea. The Djibouti government is advertising war by the blessing giving to it by the west.
I think France and America need to clean their acts. How many bloods do they want to spell. Enough is enough! They can protect their national interest in their country not ours.
They have done enough damages in the name of africa. THis time is time for the motherland to take charge of its children and flourish under their ideology of self governance.
What does the west contributed to the world since its creation? Blood, Blood, genocide,diseases, HIV aids,Immigration, tribalisms, ethnicity, tension, grief and division.
So should this policy could be followed? I will leave the judgment to you guys.
LONG LIVE ERITREA
AWET NEHFASH
LIFE OF ETERNITY TO OUR MARTYRS
Yes ;for a long time the ERITREAN DITATOR AND THE BOUCHER OF ASMARA isaias afeworki abraha has been liying for ERITREAN people after 40000 of their sons and daugthers were mowed by the ethiopians in BADEME AND TSERONA ;by saying they died for their Country.ISAIAS WAS TELLING ERITREANS THE SUN WILL NEVER RISE IF THE ETHIOPIAN DEFFENCE FORCES CAPTURE BADEME .THEY DID CAPTURE NOT ONLY BADEME ;THEY CAPTURE TSERONA,ZALE ANBESSA, BADA,SENAFE,BINBNA,SHAMBOKO,UMHAJER,GOLUCH,BARENTU, TESENE AND ALL THE VILLAGES IN BETWEEN.
WITH ISAIAS AFEWORKI’S ADVENTURE MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION ERITREANS WERE DISPLACED.UNTILL THIS VERY TIME THEY ARE LEADING A HOREBLE IN NO MANS LAND IN SHANTI REFUGE CAMPS EXPOSSED TO ALL THE ELEMENTS,
AFTER ALL THESE FALL ON OUR PEOPLE BY PERSIDENT ISAIAS ;NO ONE ASK HIM WHY DID ALL THESE CATASTROPHY AND HUMILATION WERE NOT OVER LOOKED?
AND NOW AGAIN ABOUT 78 ERITREAN MOTHERS HAVE LOST THEIR SONS FOR EVER;IN THE DIJIBUTTI ISAIAS AFEWOKI ANOTHER ADVENTURE.THIS TIME THE WORLD KNOW EVERY THING IN LIVE PICTURES IN BLACK AND WHITE.EXCEPT THE ERITREANS WHO DONT HAVE ACCESS TO SHORT WAVE RADIO.THE WAR BROKE OUT WHEN THE HALAWA SAWRA /FEDAYAN/OF THE ERITREAN REGIME TRY TO KILL THE 30 ERITREAN SOLDIERS WHO DESERTED TO DIJIBUTTI. ONE ERITREAN GUN BOAT WITH ALL CREW IN IT WAS ALSO DESTROIED .ALL THESE WERE NOT MENTIONED BY THE ERITREAN CULT GOVRNMENT MEDIA /PROPAGANDA MACHINE/AS USUAL THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMALIA.BUT THEY DON’T TELL THAT THE SOMALIS EVERY WHERE WERE MAD BY ERITREAS INVASSION OF THEIR FELLOW SOMALI SISTER COUNTRY DIJIBUTTI.THEY WERE BURNNING ERITREAN FLAG IN PUNT LAND ,IN SOMALI LAND AND THEY WERE READY TO GIVE BLOOD AND HUNREDS OF GOATS,CAMELES,CATTLE AND FIGHTERS FOR DIJIBUTTI.
ERITREANS WE CAN BE FOOLED ONCE BUT WE CANNOT BE FOOLED ALL THE TIME.THIS TIME WE GOT TO LEARN FROM OUR OWN DEBACLE OF 1998-2001.