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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000888 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PINR ER
SUBJECT: ETHNIC AFAR OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACK ON GSE 
 
REF: 231218Z NOV 05 ASMARA 
 
Classified By: AMB Scott H. Delisi, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (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.com a document entitled RSADO military 
communique No. 1, taking credit for a &serious and 
devastating operation against the PFDJ,s institution in 
Haleb8. (Full text of communique in para 6.) According to 
this report, the attack occurred at a former shipyard now 
used as an Eritrean naval base and storage facility. 
 
¶2. (U) The Afar, also called the Dankils, are one of nine 
ethnic groups of Eritrea and live in the southern Red Sea 
region.  Predominantly Muslim, the Afar people live also in 
Djibouti and Ethiopia.  Many of them are herders and 
fisherman, while some participate in regional trade to 
support the black market.  Ethnic affiliation is strong for 
the Afar people, and an ethnic cohesiveness among the Afar 
crosses the borders between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti. 
Many Afar prioritize their ethnicity ahead of their 
nationality.  The Sultan of the Afar resides in the Assab 
area and has met in the past with foreigners.  The Afar have 
a wobbly relationship with the GSE.  Isolated geographically 
in a desolate and dry region of the country, the provision of 
services by the GSE to the Afar is reportedly less than in 
other regions of the country. 
 
¶3. (U) The Afar RSADO group, according to information 
published on the internet, is not a separatist organization. 
They identify themselves as Eritrean nationalists who, as 
federalists, support the right to secession.  In existence 
since at least 2001, RSADO wish to remain part of Eritrea as 
long as this decision is made democratically and with 
democratic freedoms provided.  Against Ethiopian 
colonization, the Red Sea Afar people supported the 
referendum to separate Eritrea from Ethiopia despite a 
history of resisting the Eritrean People,s Liberation 
Front(EPLF) - now PFDJ - and their methods.  RSADO reportedly 
joined the Eritrean National Alliance (now the Eritrean 
Democratic Alliance) in 2002 during the fifth meeting of the 
Alliance. 
 
¶4. (C) Another known Afar opposition organization, the Afar 
Federal Alliance (AFA) was founded in 2003.  Sharing the 
federalist position of RSADO, the AFA have been more open in 
their efforts in the Southern Red Sea Area.  UNMEE Human 
Rights Officer Mamadi Diakite (protect) shared with Poloff 
that GSE concerns about the operations of this organization 
have resulted in every Afar-run trade convoy to Djibouti(and 
even to Ethiopia) being accompanied by a GSE intelligence 
officer.  Post has heard reports alleging that the 
Ethiopians, namely the TPLF, playing on ethnic cohesiveness 
of the Afar and the ties with the Afar population in 
Ethiopia, have established a splinter organization, the Afar 
Federal Movement, to advocate for the TPLF agenda and 
overthrow of the GSE. 
 
¶5. (C) Comment:  Ethnic tensions in Eritrea, despite the 
GSE,s propaganda to the contrary, simmer beneath the 
surface.  In the western region of Gash Barka, the Kunama 
ethnic group has been fighting a low-level insurgency for the 
past few years. In October 2005, Afar tribesman clashed with 
Eritrean troops and there continue to be rumors of other 
clashes that are believed to be essentially &homegrown.8 
While we have been unable to confirm that the RSADO,s attack 
occurred, we understand that there are some independent 
reports of an incident of some sort at or near Haleb. If the 
RSADO,s claim is true, then we would expect that the GSE 
will react strongly to this challenge to its authority and 
respond with an intensified effort to ensure its unquestioned 
control in the area. End Comment. 
 
¶6. (U) Text of the English translation of the RADSO military 
communiqu as posted at www.mesel-biharat regarding the 
incidents follows. 
 
Begin Text 
Military Communique No. 01 
 
Gallant liberation fighters and intelligence squad of Red Sea 
Afar Democratic Organization(RADSO) have accomplished a 
serious and devastating operation against PFDJ,s institution 
in Haleb as desert in southern administrative region of Afar. 
 The successfully carried operation has taken place on 
30/09/2006.  There a store of ammunition was set ablaze and 
burnt for 5 solid days.  Number of small boats and ships were 
also burned.  The said military operation with its utmost and 
devastating consequence has pondered a great threat and shock 
to the PFDJ,s regime. 
 
Haleb, where the operation has taken place is an Island 
constructed and meant for assembling and production of boats 
and ships at the era of the Derg regime.  After the doom of 
the later, the regime of Isaias Afeworki too has elevated 
that institution to the level of ammunition storage for naval 
base, assembling and production of boats and ships.  The 
vanguard organization of the Red Sea Afar (RSADO) has 
confirmed its commitment to intensify its operation till the 
doom of the oppressive regime.  Mean while, that vanguard 
organization still has called the Eritrean people to rally 
around democratic and national political forces to topple the 
current inhumane regime of Isaias Afwerki. 
 
Propaganda Office of 
Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) 
18/10/2006 
 
End text. 
DELISI