capitaleritrea » djibouti

Eritrea: We can’t supply Somali militants weapons

capitaleritrea — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:53:32 +0000

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Eritrea’s ambassador to Kenya says his country isn’t able to fly three planeloads of weapons to al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia.

Kenya last week said that three planeloads of weapons had been flown into southern Somalia to arm al-Shabab militants being pursued by Kenyan troops. Kenya’s foreign minister summoned Eritrea’s ambassador and “raised concern” over the possibility Eritrea was behind it.

Eritrean Ambassador Beyene Russom told The Associated Press on Friday that there is no evidence to support the accusations.

Russom says the accusations fit into a pattern of misinformation against his country, which he blamed on Ethiopia, Eritrea’s longtime enemy.

(AP) The Associated Press.

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Egypt Welcomes Qatari Mediation Between Eritrea and Djibouti

capitaleritrea — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:18:55 +0000

Egypt

QNA reports that Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Mona Omar has welcomed the mediation of the State of Qatar to settle the dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti, adding that Egypt welcomes any mediation that will realize peace between the two coutries.

She announced that her country was ready to make any effort to help achieve peace in this vital and important region, stressing that the return of normalcy between Eritrea and Djibouti is of interest to Egypt.

On the other hand, the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister revealed in a press statement released today that Chadian President Idriss Deby will begin a two-day visit to Cairo tomorrow (Tuesday) where he will hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and a number of officials on bilateral relations in addition to the latest developments in Sudan, especially in the Darfur region among others.

She also that Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is expected to pay a visit to Egypt during the coming period, during which he is expected to hold talks with Egyptian officials on the situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

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UNSC Supports Qatar’s Mediation on Eritrea-Djibouti Dispute

capitaleritrea — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:21:04 +0000

The United Nations Security Council late Friday extended its “fully support” to Qatar’s mediation, under the auspices of H.H. the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, between Djibouti and Eritrea, and welcomed their signing of an agreement aimed at resolving their two-year old border dispute.

“The members of the Security Council are encouraged by the willingness of the parties to resolve their border dispute peacefully, in full compliance with the provisions of relevant Security Council statements and resolutions, and in accordance with the United Nations Charter,” council President Claude Heller of Mexico told reporters on behalf of the other members.

The members also called upon both parties to engage in the mediation process “fully and in good faith, to refrain from the use or the threat of use of force and to abide by their commitments” under the agreement, and to solve their dispute and normalize their relations for the overall stability and security in the region.

The leaders of Eritrea and Djibouti signed a deal last week vowing to pursue a negotiated settlement to their dispute.

The deal ends the conflict that erupted in early 2008 when, after weeks of tensions and military build-up, the two countries’ armed forces clashed over an un-demarcated area in the Red Sea known as Doumeira, killing 35 people and leaving dozens of others wounded.

Earlier this week Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also issued a statement welcoming the deal and expressing confidence that it will “contribute to long-term peace and stability” in the region.

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Qatar Mediating Eritrea-Djibouti Border Dispute

capitaleritrea — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:24:28 +0000

Qatar

DOHA – Qatar said on Monday that Eritrean troops have withdrawn from an area they controlled in Djibouti as a result of Doha’s mediation bid to end a territorial dispute between the two neighbours.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani was quoted by official QNA news as saying that Eritrea has already conducted “a withdrawal from disputed border areas,” a move verified by a Qatari observer force.

The Qatari mediation provides for the formation of a committee, headed by Sheikh Hamad, which is empowered to appoint an international firm to demarcate the border, with Eritrea and Djibouti’s consent, QNA said.

The Qatari observation force is tasked with monitoring the border between the two countries “until the conclusion of a final agreement on settling the conflict,” QNA reported.

The force, made up of about twenty soldiers, arrived in Djibouti on Friday, according to Djibouti press reports.

The long-running border row between Djibouti and Eritrea over the disputed Ras Doumeira promontory on the shores of the Red Sea led to clashes in 1996, 1999 and again in 2008.

Qatar, a small Gulf country rich in natural gas and oil, has offered to mediate in various conflicts, including internal strife in Sudan, Yemen and Lebanon. (Middle East Online)

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U.S. Policy in Somalia: Video

capitaleritrea — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:58:41 +0000

Video

Extract from State Department Special Briefing:

AMBASSADOR COUSIN: Thank you very much, Ambassador Carson. I’d also like to thank the members of the press for your presence and interest in covering these important issues related to Somalia. As Johnnie Carson stated, the Somali people have suffered tremendously during the more than 20 years of conflict in their country.

The Somalia Monitoring Group, more commonly known as the SMG, submitted their report to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee this past week. This SMG report – the SMG reports directly to the Security Council on implementation of the Somalia and Eritrea sanctions regimes. We take the work of the Somalia Monitoring Group very seriously and we are studying its recommendations.

Next week, the Security Council will meet and receive the regular 120-day report from the Chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee that will include a briefing on the committee’s discussion of the SMG’s final report. The Somalia Monitoring Group report contains a number of recommendations, including those regarding the work of the World Food Program in Somalia. We at the U.S. Mission to the UN agencies in Rome are active members of the executive board of the World Food Program. This board regularly examines the work of the World Food Program and the perils its dedicated staff face around the world, particularly in places like Somalia.

In December of 2009, the World Food Program presented a briefing on the – its Somalia program to the World Food Program executive board. After the December board meeting, WFP did take internal measures to address the concerns raised in this internal report. Some of the same types of allegations were raised in the Somalia Monitoring Group’s report. So this morning, the executive board recognized that regardless of the process mandated by the SMG, the board has a responsibility for oversight and governance of the WFP operations. Consensus was reached by the board to ensure that all practices of the WFP in – WFP team in Somalia are in line with the organization’s policies and procedures.

We will continue to work to ensure that the generous contributions of the American people to support the work of the World Food Program are managed in an accountable and transparent manner. We express our gratitude to the WFP staff for their commitment to meet humanitarian needs in the most difficult of circumstances. The United States remains strongly committed to meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Somalia. We continue to seek ways to ensure that the Somalian people receive the assistance they require.

I’ll end here, Assistant Secretary, and look forward to any questions from the media. Thank you.

MR. DUGUID: Before we get to the questions, I would like to make a correction for the record. I described Ambassador Cousin’s – one of her official duties rather than her official title, which is – Ambassador to U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome is her official working title.

As we call on you, please identify yourself and which ambassador you would like to speak to.

Matt.

QUESTION: Matt Lee with AP. Ambassador Carson, you mentioned at the very top – you were talking about a number of recent press reports. Can you be specific about what these reports said? I’m not asking you to identify whatever organization they were responsible. But what did they say? And what is wrong – what was wrong with them?

Secondly, you said that the Djibouti process was supported by IGAD, the AU, and all the countries of the region. But that’s not entirely true, is it? I mean, there is one country that doesn’t support it. Or has Eritrea changed their position? And then –those two very briefly – but then on the military aid that you talked about the several tons of weapons that have been provided to the TFG. Are there any concerns that those weapons may be leaking out in the same way that the food aid was described as leaking out to insurgents?

AMBASSADOR CARSON: Let me say, the most prominent article was one that appeared approximately a week ago in The New York Times, written by Jeff Gettleman, and I think co-authored by one of his colleagues, which asserted or carried the assertion that the U.S. Government had military advisors assisting and aiding the TFG, that the U.S. Government was, in fact, helping to coordinate the strategic offensive that is apparently underway now, or may be underway now, in Mogadishu, and that we were, in effect, guiding the hand and the operations of the TFG military. All of those are incorrect. All of those do not reflect the accuracy of our policy, and all of those need to be refuted very strongly. I think my statement clearly outlined what we are doing and why we are doing it.

You indicated that one state in the region has not joined in, and that is absolutely true; that is Eritrea. But Eritrea, in fact, stands alone. What my statement said was that all key states in the region, all the important states in the region – and I would include among them Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and other members of IGAD –

QUESTION: You’re not planning to meet up with President Isaias anytime soon, are you?

AMBASSADOR CARSON: Whenever an opportunity presents itself to engage President Isaias in a conversation that will lead to peace and a cessation of Eritrean support for spoilers in the region, I will do so.

With respect to military weapons, we try as best we possibly can to ensure through a number of mechanisms that any assistance, any assistance that we give to the TFG, directly or indirectly, is accounted for and audited through mechanisms that we believe are very good.

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Senior Chinese Party Official Meets Djibouti Leaders on Ties

capitaleritrea — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:37:39 +0000

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) met on Tuesday with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita on ways to enhance ties between the two nations, according to reports from its capital Djibouti.

China and Djibouti have strengthened their political trust and conducted mutually beneficial cooperation since they forged diplomatic ties in 1979, said Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The two countries have maintained close coordination on international affairs, Wang said, adding that relationship between the CPC and Djibouti Popular Rally for Progress (RPP) has become an important part of bilateral ties.

China is willing to work together with Djibouti to boost mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and strengthen exchanges between the two parties and two countries, he said.

President Guelleh, who is also RPP chairman, said Djibouti is ready to promote its pragmatic cooperation with China, a major partner of the African nation, so as to benefit the two peoples.

Prime Minister and RPP Vice Chairman Dileita spoke highly of China’s Africa policy and the Djibouti-China relations, and reaffirmed his country’s adherence to the one-China policy.

Wang arrived in Djibouti Tuesday, the last leg of his six-nation Africa tour. He has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Benin, Mali and Senegal. Source: (Xinhua)

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TRANSCRIPT: AFRICOM’s General Ward Interviewed by Radio France Internationale (RFI)

capitaleritrea — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:39:02 +0000

U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs

PARIS, France, — AIDAN O’DONNELL (RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE): Thank you once again for speaking to us.

GEN. WILLIAM E. WARD: Sure.

MR O’DONNELL: Can I just ask you, first of all, you talked about increased professionalization of the various countries you’re working with – presumably better armies, better security. And the suggestion is that this leads to greater stability. Why do you feel that a better army will necessarily lead to greater stability and not to greater instability?

GEN. WARD: Because I think what you have is a – it’s not just a better army; it’s an army that functions in accordance with those things that we see as good principles, how they contribute to good governance, that responds to the legitimate government in ways that are not extrajudicial but are professional in accordance with what goes on.

If you take an example of Kenya, you know, 2 years ago, this time, Kenya was going through a very substantial governance issue associated with their elections. Their professional military stayed out of that because of that very fact — that it’s professional, and they knew how to operate in a democratic society where the army, the military, is not a part of those activities. And so we see a more professional military, not one that’s solely skilled in military tactics, but how it conducts itself – its behavior, its discipline – as a stabilizing factor.

MR O’DONNELL: You mentioned, once or twice, earlier, the question of border patrols. There are numerous clashes between various states on the very question of borders. If you’re helping a country to run a more efficient army along its border, presumably, this is giving an advantage to one country over another, in terms of a potential border dispute.

GEN. WARD: Well, the issue – and that’s why the regional business is so important. That’s why, as these nations work together regionally, that becomes increasingly, increasingly important to preclude the potential for that very thing happening. Recently, we were in East Africa – had an exercise that involved five East African nations – Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya -

MODERATOR: Uganda.

GEN. WARD: Uganda and Burundi?

COL CHILDRESS: Tanzania.

GEN. WARD: Tanzania. And they all worked together. In fact, as they were moving to conduct the exercise – the nations moving across each others’ borders – they were being greeted at the border by the next country and they were traveling together, so they all wound up in the exercise area to conduct a humanitarian assistance exercise — all together — so they get to know each other in a more effective way and their cooperating increases. It is that type of condition that we are supporting the creation of, as the nations have determined that they do, in fact, want to work together as better partners.

MR O’DONNELL: Okay. AFRICOM has asked to set it itself up in Tamanrasset and Gao. Have the respective governments approved this and will there be an installation at some point?

GEN. WARD: No, no, AFRICOM has not asked to set up in Gao or Tamanrasset. We have conducted training activities in those locations, as we have in other parts of the continent, as well. But in no way does it reflect any permanent presence.

MR O’DONNELL: Okay, we have the impression that al-Qaida in the Maghreb has abandoned the North African front to concentrate on the Sahel-Sahara strip. Is this the case and is this, for you, a new strategy on their part?

GEN. WARD: Well, I think al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb would seek to operate wherever it could find space to do so, and the vast regions of the Sahel there are areas that they would certainly look to move in. That’s why the nations of the Sahel increasing their capacity to have better control, better visibility over their vast territories, is an objective that we have, in working with those nations of the region, as well as working with other international partners.

MR O’DONNELL: Can you tell us something about the use of private military contractors by AFRICOM, or PMCs? They’re being used by African states, they’re being used by American companies and also by AFRICOM. To what extent are they being used, and are you satisfied that the necessary accountability is there?

GEN. WARD: AFRICOM does not use private military contractors.

MR O’DONNELL: Do you feel that this is something that might be used in the future, given that U.S. military resources are strained outside of AFRICOM?

GEN. WARD: I’m not envisioning that.

MR O’DONNELL: Okay. In August 2009, the U.S. assassinated a Shabaab leader using helicopters out of Mogadishu. What kind of information-gathering led to this, and is this something that we can expect to see in the future?

GEN. WARD: Well, I don’t know if I would characterize it as such. There are terrorists that are operating around the world, and our president has said, as well as the current administration, that we will pursue those terrorists, where they may be. And that is something that is an option that remains on the table.

MR O’DONNELL: In Northern Chad in 2008, we’ve seen Navy SEAL units – very small, very mobile – about 15 people – on intelligence-gathering missions. Can you tell us how widespread this kind of operation is around the continent?

GEN. WARD: I would not characterize any particular – I’m not sure what you’re talking about there. So I don’t know if there were Navy SEALS on some intelligence gathering mission at all. We do conduct security assistance and training missions with a range of our forces that operate, again, in these countries to provide training, support and assistance, as is coordinated by those partner nations. And that occurs as a part of our security assistance program in many parts of the continent.

SONIA ROLLEY (RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE): Do you believe that the threat of the Shabaab to go to Yemen and to help al-Qaida there is a real threat, or it’s just talk or for publicity?

GEN. WARD: As I mentioned, I think whenever these groups say that they’re going to do something, we would take them at their word that they would do that. And we would – that would be of a concern. So I take them at their word.

MS. ROLLEY: And you believe that they have the capacity to do it? You believe that they are still an important threat in Somalia, as before?

GEN. WARD: I think so. It doesn’t take a lot to be a threat. And so I think they say that they are going to do that and I take them at their word.

MS. ROLLEY: And what about the role of Eritrea? Do you believe that Eritrea is a key country in the region, with Somalia, for example, but also with Yemen? Do you have evidence that Eritrea is a key player in these terrorist activities in the region?

GEN. WARD: Well, I think it’s a function of how these countries work to help to prevent crisis – help to create stability, as opposed to not. And that is what we would like to see all the countries be active contributors in helping to create stability – don’t see a lot of that evidence from Eritrea.

COL CHILDRESS: We have time for one more question.

MR O’DONNELL: Just to come back, finally, to the question of military contractors, if you are operating in Africa, if the U.S. government is awarding contracts to American security companies who are operating in, say, Liberia, Sudan, Somalia, does this mean that you’re then working around these companies – these entities?

GEN. WARD: I’m not quite sure – you know, we have contractors in Africa. The contractors are there providing logistic support. I’m not aware of American security contractors or companies operating in Africa conducting security activities.

MR O’DONNELL: And do you believe that – are you having to have a closer look on Nigeria, for example, because of what happened with the terrorist attempt on the plane?

MS. ROLLEY: No. There are – we have not done anything different insofar as what we are doing. We work with the Nigerians. But we haven’t done anything different. What was going with the plane – our Transportation Security Administration — and those airport and flight safety requirements — is responsible for coordinating and working those with other nations who have flights that originate in their territories that are bound for the United States.

MR O’DONNELL: Thank you very much.

(END)

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Eritrea: London Think Tank on Economic Drivers of Conflict and Cooperation

capitaleritrea — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:11:12 +0000

Horn of Africa

London based think tank Chatham House published a briefing paper on economic drivers of conflict and cooperation in the Horn of Africa.

According to the research agency, economic relations between nations in the Horn of Africa could play a vital role in bringing peaceful cooperation to the region. However, disagreement over territorial integrity, cultural nationalism and internal factionalism have economic elements which fuel conflict or are critical to its outcome.

Further, it states the Horn of Africa remains highly violent and conflict driven within and across national borders. The fact that the region is linked together through colonial occurrences, common ecological zones and cultural interdependence, explains why disputes in one country can have political and economic significance beyond its borders.

The termination of trade between Eritrea and Ethiopia after the 1998-2000 war represents an economic driver of conflict, the report states. The border closure between Eritrea and Ethiopia caused all Ethiopian trade to be redirected via Djibouti.

The growth of trade volumes via Djibouti went up from 1.7 million tonnes in 1997 to 3.1 million tonnes in 1998 and 4.2 million tonnes in 2002. Before the conflict the port of Assab was handling 80 – 85% of Ethiopia’s international trade, with only 15 – 20% passing through Djibouti.

According to the think tank a possible return of trade between Ethiopia and Eritrea will depend on a number of factors;

The degree of development in the economic infrastructure of Tigray
The availability of finance to upgrade the ports of Massawa and Assab
The degree of competitive measures applied from Djibouti
Low cost operation costs at ports in Somalia (Berbera port fees 40% lower than those in Djibouti)
The development of relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia
The alternative of road supply routes with Sudan (cheap import and exports- only 45km from Tessenei)

For more: plesae visit the Chatham House Web page

Summary points:

Among the drivers of conflict in the Horn of Africa economic motivations have been ubiquitous and pervasive in prompting and sustaining conflict. At other times economic drivers have exhibited a potential for peaceful cooperation. An understanding of their role and relationship with other forces of change is essential.
Conflict in the Horn frequently has economic impacts across national borders. This paper identifies four major zones of borderland insecurity in which informal trade as much as formal relationships can both sustain conflict and offer potential for post conflict cooperation.
Underlying the various sub-regional conflicts are a number of recurrent economic themes, including access to sea ports, livestock as a basis for livelihoods, energy related issues, the wider impact of localized conflict, drought, land rights and remittances.
The establishment of permanent peace can only be built upon a common set of values reflecting equity, tolerance and an acknowledgment of the potential of traditional institutions in entrenching community cohesion. Only on such a foundation will specific programmes be assured of harnessing those economic drivers necessary for their success.

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Flydubai Adds Flights to Neighbouring Djibouti

capitaleritrea — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:33:31 +0000

Flydubai

Flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, is going to fly to neighbouring Djibouti and add the second African destination to its network. The inaugural flight FZ601 touched down at Djibouti Ambouli International Airport this week.

The new service will operate three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Dubai at 0800hrs arriving at 1015hrs local time.

The return flight, FZ602, will leave 45 minutes later at 1100hrs and arrive back in Dubai at 1515hrs local time. Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, said:

“One of the reasons Flydubai was set up was to operate to second tier cities that are currently underserved by airlines flying out of Dubai. While these cities may not be large enough markets for the bigger airlines, there is still a significant amount of traffic from these markets and we believe they will be important and profitable routes for Flydubai.”

Al Ghaith added, “Djibouti has long established commercial links with Dubai, including DP World, which operates the Port of Djibouti.”

He also said that as one of the very few airlines to offer direct flights to this relatively small destination, Flydubai anticipates strong demand from both the business and leisure markets.

With a population of just half a million people, Djibouti is roughly half the size of Abu Dhabi, with a land mass of 23,000 km2 encompassing desert, highlands and plateaus. Djibouti is a republic which was formed in 1977, when the country gained independence from France. The national languages are Arabic and French.

Bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, Djibouti has a long history as a trading port and is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden.

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High Food Prices in Djibouti

capitaleritrea — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:16:05 +0000

IRIN News Agency reports that despite the fact that increased rainfall has improved the food security situation in Djibouti, many households in the Red Sea state can not afford to purchase food items due to high prices. Read more: IRIN

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